25,000 families displaced by flood

TT, Siliguri, 9 July:  At least 25,000 families were affected by flood due to heavy rain in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts over the past three days. 

The Alipurduar sub-division in Jalpaiguri was badly hit by rains and low-lying areas in several gram panchayats are under floodwaters. Embankments of several rivers were damaged. 

Erosion, which continues unabated, was the chief cause of damage of embankments. The Tufanganj block in Cooch Behar district was worst due to heavy rains. 

Almost 14-gram panchayats in Tufanganj block were affected. The Sitai block and Natabari areas in Cooch Behar area were also affected. No casualty has been reported yet. The flood situation may turn critical if the flood-affected areas receive more rains. 

The North Bengal Flood Control Commission (NBFCC) sounded an alert on three rivers in the Dooars ~ Torsa, Raidak and Sankhosh. According to NBFCC, met officials forecasted heavy showers in the next 24 hours. 

Two rivers like Kaljani and Raidak-I broke banks and inundated many parts of Tufanganj and adjoining areas in Cooch Behar district. 

According to the Jalpaiguri district magistrate, Ms Smaraki Mahapatra, at least 12,000 families were affected in low-lying areas. Over 20 flood relief centres were set up in safer areas for shifting flood victims. “We have adequate relief materials and started distributing it through block officials and government employees posted in gram panchayats to flood victims,” said Ms Mahapatra. 

“The water level is not receding at present because all rivers are in spate and heavy rain continues. Stagnant water in low-lying areas has compounded the problem in several blocks mainly under Alipurduar sub-division due to continuous rains,” Ms Mahapatra added. According to the chief engineer and chairman of the NBFCC, Mr Gangadhar De: “We have sounded a red alert on the rivers Torsa, Raidak and Sankosh in the Dooars. Alipurduar and Cooch Behar irrigation divisions were badly hit. 

Erosion continues unabated on the bank of several rivers. Embankments were badly damaged by erosion at 15 spots in the Alipurduar sub-division. Besides, over 40 spots were identified where embankments were damaged in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar areas. We are waiting for reports in detail about damages of flood protection works.” 

Rivers like Torsa, Raidak-I, Sankosh, Daina, Turturi, Gadhadhar and others were in spate and continue to inundate large part of low-lying areas. Many houses are submerged and damaged by floodwaters, according to Mr De. Mr De also pointed out that Sitai, Madhupur, Natabari and Tufanganj in Cooch Behar were badly hit by rains and floods. River Raidak-I and Kaljani broke its banks inundating Tufanganj and adjoining areas. 

Tufanganj area received 175 mm rainfall since Sunday and the area also received 185 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours. The Alipurduar sub-division received 272 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours. The area received 244 mm and 231 mm rainfall over the past two days since Saturday. 

According to official sources, seven-gram panchayats (GP) in Kumargram block, four GPs in Alipurduar-I, five GPs in Alipurduar-II were affected badly. Several GPs under Malbazar, Rajganj, Maynaguri were submerged due to incessant rain since last midnight. The chief engineer and chairman of the NBFCC, Mr Gangadhar De, said that he had started reporting to state irrigation departments seeking permission for restoration works of the damaged parts of the embankments within two to three days as the water level starts receding. 

The Jalpaiguri district magistrate, Ms Smaraki Mahapatra, said: “We have started recommending several flood protection schemes for sanctioning funds immediately from the disaster management department.” 

She said: “The administration officials are still worried about natural calamity ahead of rural polls slated to be held on 25 July.” “They decided to start restoration work in the next dry spell to prevent floodwaters from gushing into several villages during the fifth phase of polls," Ms Mahapatra added.