Kolkata: Three individuals, including a 7-year-old girl attending school, lost their lives amid severe flooding in parts of Ghatal, Paschim Medinipur district, West Bengal, due to heavy rainfall, an official reported.
Six Gram Panchayats within block and 13 wards of Ghatal municipality have been submerged, impacting many residents in the area. However, the water level at Ghatal has now stabilized, and the upper part of the Shilabati River is gradually receding, offering some relief to the flood-hit zones.
Ghatal SDO Suman Biswas told media on Sunday that two bodies had been recovered and sent for post-mortem examinations. The deaths include a 7-year-old schoolgirl who succumbed a day earlier. “The water level at Ghatal is now stagnant, while the Baka level, the upper section of the Shilabati River, is decreasing steadily. Despite this, six Gram Panchayats and 13 wards remain flooded,” he added. Rescue operations are ongoing in the area.
Meanwhile, Himachal Pradesh continues to face the wrath of the monsoon, with heavy rains, landslides, flash floods, and infrastructural damage across districts, leading to 95 deaths between June 20 and July 12, 2025, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA).
Among these fatalities, 56 deaths are directly linked to rain-related disasters like landslides, floods, cloudbursts, and drowning incidents, with Mandi district recording the highest at 17 deaths, followed by Kangra with 12, and Kullu with 3. An additional 39 deaths resulted from road accidents, with Solan, Chamba, and Kullu among the most affected districts.
The economic toll includes extensive property and agricultural damage, totaling over ₹75,195 lakh (₹751.95 crore), affecting both public and private assets, crops, and livestock. So far, over 22,453 animals have perished, including 21,500 poultry birds.
As of July 12, the disaster has injured 1,026 people, destroyed 371 houses entirely, and partially damaged 1,093 more, highlighting the ongoing impact of the relentless monsoon on the region.