India, Oct. 6 -- West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday blamed the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) for the devastating floods in North Bengal, calling them "man-made." She alleged that the DVC released water from reservoirs without coordination, worsening the situation in Darjeeling and nearby areas already battered by record rainfall since Saturday.

Speaking to reporters at Kolkata airport before leaving for Bagdogra to supervise relief efforts, Banerjee announced that the state government had arranged 45 buses to bring stranded tourists back from the affected districts.

She said all tourists had been rescued, except for one person from Diamond Harbour who remains missing. "Around 500 tourists have already been brought i...