West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday declared an ex gratia payment of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives due to rain-related incidents across the state, reported the PTI.

While defending her administration’s response to the torrential Kolkata rains that left the city and neighbouring areas waterlogged, Mamata Banerjee criticised the Central Government for failing to dredge the Ganga River and also held Metro Rail authorities partly responsible for flooding in Salt Lake due to ongoing construction work.