In a heated exchange of accusations, West Bengal’s political leaders have traded blame over the severe flood situation affecting large parts of the state. The floods have caused extensive damage, leaving many areas submerged and residents struggling to access basic necessities.
West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Monday directly blamed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for the worsening flood conditions in the state. He pointed to what he called the failures of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, saying, “Mamata Banerjee is responsible for this… This is TMC’s failure, TMC should be accountable to the people of Ghatal… The state government has no role here, Mamata Banerjee herself came here but what happened? There is no rice in people’s homes, no tarpaulin, no food for children. The government has completely failed here.”
Adhikari visited flood-affected regions, including Ghatal in the Paschim Medinipur district, earlier in the day, meeting with people impacted by the severe conditions. He criticized the state government’s disaster management response, asserting that the residents in these areas have been left helpless.
At the same time, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee defended her government and shifted the blame to the BJP-led Central government. Banerjee accused the Centre of being responsible for the flood situation, stating, “In Jharkhand, as soon as it rains, we become worried because they release water to save themselves, which affects the entire Bengal region. The Ganga Action Plan, flood control, and DVC are all under the central government’s control, but due to their inaction, lakhs of homes are getting flooded.”
Banerjee also criticized the allocation of funds, alleging that if the Central government provided adequate financial support, the state could manage the floods more effectively. “During elections, the money that political parties spend—building large structures and erecting statues—if the Central Government gives us even one-fourth of that amount, we (the West Bengal government) could manage the Ganga Action Plan and flood control much better,” she stated.
The chief minister expressed concerns that the situation could worsen in the coming days, particularly if the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) continues to release water from its reservoirs. “Two depressions have developed over the Bay of Bengal. The situation will worsen if it continues to rain, especially if the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) releases more water from its dams,” Banerjee said during her visit to the flood-affected districts.
Earlier in Bardhaman, Banerjee distributed essential supplies to residents impacted by the floods, showcasing the state government’s ongoing relief efforts. Despite these measures, she has repeatedly called on the Central government for assistance. On Saturday, she wrote another letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting the damage caused by what she described as “abnormally heavy releases of water from the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) reservoirs in Jharkhand.”
In her letter, Banerjee emphasized the scale of the disaster, noting that nearly five million people have been affected by the floods. She urged the Centre to release emergency funds to support recovery operations in the region, citing the extensive loss of crops, damage to public infrastructure, and destruction of homes and livestock. “The floods have led to significant loss of crops, damage to public infrastructure, and destruction of homes and livestock,” she wrote, adding that the state government is working hard to provide relief, with operations underway to evacuate people to safer shelters.
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