With the fear of diseases and epidemics looming large in the affected areas, the state government has issued an alert in the two districts and rushed in 10 medical teams. The district administration, however, discontinued air droppings today.

Official sources put the death toll at 27, but expects more bodies to be recovered after the waters subside. A total of 27 lakh people have been affected. “Water is receding in some parts of the affected districts. Our relief and rescue operations are continuing. After the flood subsides, there may be a possibility of an epidemic and spread of diseases. We have alerted the affected districts and our health department teams are already in operation,” said Health minister Surya Kanta Mishra.

Relief minister Murtaza Hussain said: “Twenty-seven lakh people living in 7,810 villages have been affected. Ten lakh pieces of halogen tablets, 40,000 packets of ORS, 170 vials of anti-venom serum and 1.55 lakh water pouches have already been distributed.”

Hussain held a meeting with state Civil Defence minister Srikumar Mukherjee and Chief Secretary Amit Kiran Deb at the Writers’ Buildings on Saturday. Flood waters continue to inundate vast areas in Sabong, Pingla, Daton, Narayangarh, Belda and other blocks of West Midnapore. In East Midnapore, among the 25 blocks, 15 remained completely inundated. In West Midnapore alone, nearly 3 lakh people are currently housed in makeshift camps in different areas.

West Midnapore District Magistrate N S Nigam said: “Camps have been set up in local schools, embankments and on high ground. In the past 24 hours, only 35 mm rainfall has been recorded.” “With the water receding, we fear that there may be an epidemic and have already started to disinfect tubewells, wells and ponds. Two hundred medical teams are working in my district alone. Chlorine tablets are being distributed along with water pouches and other relief materials,” he added.

The district administration has made special arrangements through the state Animal Welfare department to dispose carcasses of domestic animals, which now pose a health risk. “There are hundreds of carcasses. We have made arrangements to dispose them immediately,” said Nigam. Army jawans are helping people in Pingla and Sabong blocks, which are the worst-hit.

Complaints poured in from Opposition parties who alleged that relief materials are yet to reach the far-flung areas. In East Midnapore, over 2 lakh people are spending their days in makeshift camps. Trinamool Congress leader Suvendu Adhikary said: “In areas like Patashpur and Bahagabanpur 1 and 2 blocks, no relief materials have reached yet. People are sitting on rooftops and trees for the past three to four days without any food or water. We have contacted the district administration, but they are not listening to us.”