Siliguri highest rain in year

TT, July 9: Siliguri in the last 24 hours received 190mm of rain, the highest this year.

Met officials said north Bengal would continue to receive heavy to very-heavy rain in the next 48 hours. Torrential rain in other parts of sub-Himalayan Bengal and Sikkim between 8.30am yesterday and the same time today led to floods and water-logging in several parts of Siliguri town, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, leaving many houses marooned and forcing hundreds to move to safer areas.

Consistent rain since yesterday flooded low-lying areas of Siliguri, like Ashoknagar, Shaktigarh, Naukaghat, Haiderpara, Rajivnagar, Champasari, Milanpally and Gangangar. Water entered some houses in slums and the residents fled to safer places.

With the rain abating late in the afternoon, the water level receded in these localities.

With several localities going under, the Siliguri Municipal Corporation has swung into action to clear the town of rainwater.

“Today, we held a meeting to discuss monsoon-related problems. A control room has been opened with a helpline number (0353-2435747) and it will be operational round the clock. A team of 70 conservancy workers was formed to handle situations like water-logging and to clear the drains of clogs so that rainwater can flow freely to rivers and streams,”said Swapan Chanda, the member-mayor-in-council (conservancy).

The Trinamul Congress alleged that the civic body had done nothing to repair the roads and clear the drains in Siliguri ahead of the monsoon.

“It is disappointing that the civic body did nothing to clear the garbage or repair the drains and roads. No special team was formed or mechanism devised to meet emergency situations during the monsoon. People across Siliguri are facing inconveniences because of the lackadaisical attitude of the Congress-run civic board,” Dulal Dutta, a Trinamul councillor, said today.

The consistent rain also led to a rise in the water levels of rivers.

The North Bengal Flood Control Commission issued alert for people living on the banks.

Gangadhar Dey, the commission chairman, today said the Teesta had breached a portion of the embankment on the right bank in Malbazar subdivision in Jalpaiguri district, leading to the inundation of Sidhabari village.

Also, diversion bridges over the Diana and the Kuchi Diana rivers were damaged following an increase in the water levels, cutting off Kherkata village from Nagrakata in the Dooars.

In Jalpaiguri town, Pandapara, Mahamayapara and Netajipara were submerged by water from the Karala river. Mohan Bose, the chairman of the Jalpaiguri municipality, said over 100 people had been shifted to higher places from Netajipara in Ward 25.

Elsewhere in the district, some parts of Alipurduar town were water-logged. Alipurduar received 270mm of rain in 24 hours till 8.30am today.

In Alipurduar block II, streams flowing from Bhutan have breached the embankments and flooded villages like Bhatibari, Parokata and Khatajani. Around 150 families in these areas have been shifted to safer places. Around 200 families were marooned at Stationpara in Kamakhyaguri under Kumargram block.

Barobisha, Jalpaiguri and Kumargram received 290mm, 160mm and 130mm of rain respectively for 24 hours till 8.30am today.

Smaraki Mahapatra, the district magistrate of Jalpaiguri, said: “We are keeping a close watch over the situation across the district. The flood control commission, the district administration and state disaster management department are working in tandem to tackle any emergencies. Relief materials have been dispatched through blocks for distribution among the affected people.”

The rains wreaked havoc in Cooch Behar district also. The Torsha had overflowed, flooding Madhupur village in Cooch Behar I block and forcing over 200 families to flee to higher places. Villages in Tufanganj I block were submerged by the Kaljani and Gadadhar rivers.

Mekhliganj, Cooch Behar, Mathabhanga and Bagdogra recorded 270mm, 150mm, 190mm and 110mm of rain respectively in the past 24 hours.