Mamata sets 24-hour cell to monitor heavy rains in WB

The disaster management cell is monitoring round-the-clock the situation in the wake of heavy rains that pounded Kolkata and South Bengal districts on Friday, claiming three lives, Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee said on Friday night.

"The administration has taken all necessary measures for rescue and relief of the affected people in this calamity.
A 24-hour control room has been set up at Writers Building (secretariat)," Banerjee, who is personally monitoring the
situation, told reporters at the state secretariat.

She said 30-35 trawlers had gone missing in the Bay of Bengal due to heavy rains triggered by a depression.

"An estimated 24-25 trawlers still remained untraced and search was on. The Coastguard and Navy have been contacted for the purpose of search operation," she said.

Banerjee said the Bangladesh government has been requested to see that the fishermen of any of the trawlers
having strayed into the neighbouring territory were treated humanely with no case registered against them.

"It sometimes happens that when the tide turns the other way the trawlers from this country stray into Bangladesh... The Bangladesh government has been given prior intimation since they do not have the knowledge of such development always," Banerjee said.

State Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh talked to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission on Thursday on the issue, she
added.

Banerjee said that to stand beside the people at this hour she had deferred her visit to Delhi on Saturday to take up with the Finance Ministry and the Planning Commission matters relating to the state's finances.

"Instead I will go to Delhi on Monday for a three-day visit", she said.

"Money cannot be more precious than human lives. So, in view of the disaster, I have deferred my visit to Delhi to stand beside the people at this hour", Banerjee said.