at least 893 people have died and 18 million rendered homeless in flood-ravaged West Bengal. Official reports indicated that the death toll might reach 1000. The state chief minister has described the situation as a 'national disaster'. The Union railway minister, Mamata Banerjee has allege that the state government purposely let the situation get out of hand in order to divert people's attention from the 'worsening law and order situation'. The state government has spent nearly Rs 800 million on relief operations. More than six million people have been evacuated. At least 15 army columns and 45 speedboats are helping in the rescue operations. The residents of West Bengal on the other hand are not satisfied by the rescue operations. "Even animals would refuse to eat the food that is being provided by the government," said a flood victim.
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