The rains

The monsoon just arrived but already it wreaked havoc. The rains took a heavy toll last week as it lashed with tremendous ferocity across the state, and battered the normalcy of life out of shape.

Unsuspecting people who thought the deluge was temporary and would soon stop paid price loosing their dear belongings, and even lives in some cases.

Stats say that in the past 2-3 days many places received rainfall that they normally get in the whole of a monsoon month. Rivers have swollen inundating large parts in South Bengal, and later in the north of the state as well.

The rail link between Kharagpur and Bhadrak has suffered extensive damages, because of which all train services including those going to Chennai, Secunderabad, and Bangalore have been suspended.

Rarely has a year passed since last several decades that Bengal hasn’t suffered the flood fury. Yet surprisingly the steps for improving the canals, dams in the villages, and drainage systems in towns have been awfully inadequate.

In Kolkata, areas like Behala and Bangur are notorious in turning out as the catchments of filth and stagnated water of surrounding places. It remains that way for the entire duration of monsoon.

It’s not that money doesn’t pour in for doing things that can change life for better. For example, a central government funding under the JNURM (Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission) scheme is providing money for improving the drainage system throughout the city.

But will that really give succor to the sufferings of the people? This as ever remains the million-dollar question.

Meanwhile in the countryside the fury of flood has already begun to heap untold misery on the people. The danger to life and property is too real for them to even think of other losses like missed opportunities, lost business, and suchlike.

One hopes normalcy returns soon, and people can resume their daily activities.