Two Dead, 3,200 Houses Damaged in South Bengal Floods; CM Announces Compensation
Two people have died and more than 3,000 houses have been damaged in the floods affecting southern West Bengal, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said on Thursday (August 20, 2026) after conducting an aerial survey of the affected areas. The flooding has been caused by torrential rain over the past few days, which has pushed large parts of Purba and Paschim Medinipur districts towards a major crisis.
Speaking to reporters after the survey, which covered Ghatal, Arambagh and Sabang, Mr. Adhikari said initial estimates suggest around 3,200 houses have been damaged. He announced that the State government will provide financial assistance of ₹30,000 to all families whose houses have been damaged, and ₹9 lakh to the families of the two deceased. He did not specify a timeline for the disbursal of these funds.
The Chief Minister said around 50,000 people, spread over five to six gram panchayats in and around Sabang, were currently stranded due to the floods. Approximately 4,000 to 5,000 people have been moved to relief camps, he added. He also reported ten cases of snakebite in the affected areas, but said there was no loss of life in these cases.
After the aerial survey, Mr. Adhikari held a meeting with officials and Ministers at the Block Development Office in Sabang. He directed Rajesh Mahato, the Minister for Animal Resources Development, to oversee the rescue and relief operations. On Wednesday, the Chief Minister had directed MLAs to visit flood-affected areas. The Cabinet also decided to initiate land acquisition for the Ghatal Masterplan, a major flood-management and drainage project designed to protect the chronically flood-prone Ghatal region in the Paschim Medinipur and Purba Medinipur districts.
The Ghatal Masterplan has been a long-pending demand of local residents, who face the brunt of flooding every year. The region's low-lying geography and inadequate drainage infrastructure have made floods an annual problem. This year, nearly 1,600 villages have been inundated across the two districts, affecting millions of people. The State government has deployed rescue teams and relief materials, but many areas remain inaccessible. The administration has opened relief camps and is distributing food and drinking water to stranded families, though access to several villages remains a challenge due to breached embankments and submerged roads.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC), the main opposition party, criticised the Chief Minister's handling of the crisis. In a social media post, the party shared an old video in which Mr. Adhikari is purportedly heard telling people that there would be no floods from 2026. The TMC statement said: “People are struggling. Communities are demanding answers. But what do we get in the name of an ‘aerial survey’ funded by taxpayers? Helicopter rides, photo-ops, reels. And after all the drama, what is the actual outcome of these so-called visits? Not accountability. Not solutions. Not relief.”
The TMC's criticism comes amidst growing public anger over the recurring floods and the perceived lack of a permanent solution. While the government has announced compensation and relief measures, residents in the affected areas have been demanding a comprehensive flood-management plan to prevent such crises in the future. The Ghatal Masterplan is seen as a step in that direction, but its implementation is likely to take time.
