Rain toll climbs to 9.

(From The Statesman (India))

Statesman News Service KOLKATA, Oct. 24. While the death toll was officially put at nine in five districts reeling under six days of heavy rain today, unofficial reports said the toll was at least 13. More than 2.3 million people have been affected in East and West Midnapore, Purulia, North and South 24-Parganas. Water has receded from the KMC area but a few parts are still under water. The chief minister is likely to visit two of the worst-affected subdivisions, Egra and Contai, of East Midnapore on 28 October. Mr Biswanath Chowdhury, state irrigation minister, said that the situation in East Midnapore is alarming as rivers such as …