Kolkata: Two people drowned in flood water in West Midnapore's Ghatal over the past two days. This comes amid increased concerns about potential flooding in multiple south Bengal districts.

Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released 71,000 cusecs of water from the Durgapur barrage between Friday night and Saturday morning. DVC had earlier informed govt of a water-release limit of 60,000 cusec.In Ghatal's Chandrakona, 40-year-old Tulsi Ruidas was swept away on Friday while crossing the state highway in Palasdhari. His body was found on Saturday. The other flood victim was 18-year-old Sk Ajabur Ali.

Authorities said 27 flood shelters had been set up in the region. Drones have been deployed in the district.On Saturday, chief secretary Manoj Pant told DVC authorities to not release more water without notifying the Bengal govt after CM Mamata Banerjee asked him to handle the issue. Pant held a high-level meeting with irrigation and disaster management departments. The CM had said DVC water was causing annual floods in Bengal, putting villagers in peril.

At an administrative meeting on Friday, Banerjee stressed increased coordination with DVC to prevent floods.

She emphasised the need to shift people and cautioned that releasing water without planning would inevitably harm crops and cattle. Banerjee also instructed DMs and SPs to be vigilant.DVC authorities assured they would intimate the irrigation department before releasing water but pointed out that increased rainfall along Jharkhand and Bihar borders had caused Damodar and Barakar rivers to rise. As a result, DVC released 69,500 cusecs of water from Panchet reservoir and around 1,000 cusec from Maithon.