The Army was called out on Wednesday to assist the administration in West Midnapore district where the flood situation remained grim affecting 1.5 lakh people.

"We have received a request from the West Bengal government to assist in relief and rescue operations in West Midnapore district. Accordingly, one team each from 3 Madras Regiment and Engineers is being sent," Defence spokesman Group Capt R K Das said.

He said the teams would begin relief and rescue operations in Sabang, Narayangarh and Pungla areas later in the day.

Meanwhile, efforts were on to trace the former confidential assistant of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and two others who were swept away in the flash floods, triggered by depression-induced heavy rains.

Coast Guard authorities at Haldia were asked to send divers to trace Banerjee's aide Gautam Basu and the two others, official sources said in Midnapore.

Basu and six others were driving from Orissa to Kolkata when their vehicle got struck while it was crossing a flooded bridge at Poktapole.

Policemen, who arrived on the spot, could not get to the car. They tied a rope to one end of the railing and hurled the other end to the stranded persons so that they could cross the stretch holding on to the rope.

While four persons managed to cross over, the railing collapsed and the three fell into the swirling water, the sources said.