Areas submerged due to heavy rains

SNS, Siliguri, 9 July : Several places under the Siliguri& Municipal Corporation (SMC) and adjacent areas have remained water-logged for several hours today, as torrential rains dragged on over the past 24 hours. Normal life was thrown out of gear. Many areas remained water-logged till afternoon. Local people in some areas staged agitations, demanding immediate action from the civic body to pump water out. 

It is learnt from the North Bengal Flood Control Commission sources that Siliguri has received 172.80 mm rainfall over the past 24 hours. 

Rajibnagar, Asokenagar, Saktigarh, Haidarpara, Paschim Dhantala, Naukaghat, Kawakhali are among the worst affected areas in the town in terms of water-logging. 

Classes from I to VI in government-aided schools in the sub-division were not held, as the management declared a holiday because of the continuing downpour and the roads being water-logged.  

The SMC has opened a 24-hour control room to monitor the situation. 

“Around 60-70 people would be operating round the clock from the control room. We have arranged four pump sets to drain out water. Besides, five earth movers would be used. The SMC has also stacked tarpaulin sheets and dry food for contingency,” said the SMC conservancy member of mayor-in-council (MMIC), Mr Swapan Chanda. 

However, the north Bengal development minister, Mr Gautam Deb slammed the civic body for failing to take necessary steps to tackle the situation. “The performance of the civic body is dismal. Several areas have remained waterlogged. They should have taken steps in advance as the meteorological department keeps alerting them about the impending heavy shower. But they kept sleeping over the warning,” Mr Deb said. 

Denying the allegation, the MMIC, PWD, Mr Sujay Ghatak, said all the MMICs had visited the areas where people are facing difficulties for water-logging.

However, water has started receding since afternoon. According to sources, a part of the road at Jhankar More in Siliguri near the bridge has caved in. The Met department has forecast heavy rains in Darjeeling district in the next 24 hours.