West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for the severe flooding in North Bengal, terming it a “man-made disaster.” She alleged that the DVC, a Central government agency, released excessive water from the Maithon and Panchet dams in Jharkhand without proper coordination with the state government, aggravating the flood situation in downstream areas.
Addressing reporters, Banerjee said that the DVC’s actions were “irresponsible” and had worsened the crisis in several districts, including Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar, and Cooch Behar. “The DVC released water unilaterally to protect Jharkhand, pushing Bengal into danger. These floods are not natural but man-made,” she stated.
According to state officials, the sudden discharge from the reservoirs coincided with heavy rainfall across the region, leading to massive inundation, crop loss, and disruption of road connectivity. Several rivers, including the Teesta, Torsa, and Jaldhaka, have been flowing above the danger mark, inundating vast stretches of agricultural land and residential areas.
Banerjee accused the Central government of ignoring repeated requests for better coordination in flood management. “We have written to the Centre several times about the need for joint monitoring of the DVC dams, but our appeals were ignored. This is the result of negligence,” she added.
The Chief Minister also announced relief measures for affected families. The state government will provide ₹5 lakh compensation to the next of kin of those who lost their lives and a government job to one family member of each deceased. Additionally, around 45 buses have been deployed to rescue stranded tourists, and district administrations have been instructed to provide food and shelter to displaced residents.
Meanwhile, the DVC has denied the allegations, claiming that the water release was conducted as per standard protocol and in response to heavy inflows caused by continuous rainfall in catchment areas. The agency stated that all relevant authorities were informed in advance before the discharge of water from its dams.
This incident has once again highlighted the long-standing dispute between the West Bengal government and the DVC over flood management and dam operations. The state has frequently accused the central agency of uncoordinated water releases, while the DVC has maintained that it follows prescribed procedures.
As rescue and relief operations continue, thousands remain affected across North Bengal. Meteorological officials have predicted more rainfall in parts of the region over the next 48 hours, raising concerns of further flooding. The state government has urged residents in low-lying areas to stay alert and cooperate with authorities as the situation remains critical.
