Kolkata: Residents of Port areas, old buildings shifted

KOLKATA: A total number of 2274 citizens in Kolkata have been shifted to safer locations till Tuesday evening. They have been put up in 120-odd buildings, which include night shelters, school buildings,

community centres

and even guest houses and dharamshalas. Around 1270 citizens of those shifted were from Port areas alone.

The huge evacuation operation in the past 24 hours was carried out by

KMC

and

Kolkata police

with help from civil defence and NDRF at a few locations.

Several NGOs, trusts and individuals have come forward to open their door for these people, pooling in even their own resources for this purpose.

Those rescued and sent to shelters include the residents of dilapidated buildings in central and north Kolkata and those staying in the low lying areas of Port and adjoining EM Bypass — Madurdaha and Mukundapur. The homeless were also rescued and taken to safety around major intersections and temples.

"Maximum evacuation has taken place across central, north and Port areas. A significant number is also from the added areas. The numbers are likely to go up by Wednesday morning," said joint CP (headquarters) Subhankar Sinha Sarkar.

Sources in the KMC buildings department said over 200 families were evacuated from insecure buildings across the city alone. North Kolkata witnessed the maximum evacuation with 824 people having been put up at 32 different shelters. The Burtolla police have evacuated 17 persons from three dilapidated buildings located at APC Road, Aurobindo Sarani at Sovabazar and Beadon Street.

Md Qasim, a Ripon Street resident, said, "We were asked to move out during cyclone

Amphan

too as we do not live in a pucca house. We are now used to the routine." Soumya Roy, a resident of APC Road, said, "They asked us to relocate to a safer location. Due to

Covid

, I did not wish to go to any shelter. Thankfully, my sister lives in Dum Dum and cops gave us permission to relocate there."

Among the residents of the dilapidated buildings who had to be counselled by former councillors and OCs for hours before they agreed to move out, several were asked to stay at KMC-run schools and community halls located in four central Kolkata wards covering Bedford Street,, Elliot Road, Ripon Street, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Road and Bowbazar.

Several NGOs are also assisting the state agencies in their efforts. "Our volunteers are ready with utilities and food which are immediately necessary to tide over this calamity," said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, chairman, IHA Foundation, adding that the Kolkata Response Group and IHA Foundation have formed special squads for quick response and have launched a helpline — 1800 313 8100. Manav Jyot has come forward to feed 80 families rescued from Bhowanipore.