Alert sounded after Siliguri, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar get flooded

EOI, SILIGURI, 22 Jul 2016: Large swathes of the plain areas of Darjeeling district including the districts of Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar have been affected following heavy to very heavy rainfall over the  past three days. A red alert has been sounded in Alipurduar, especially in unprotected areas where the Torsha River flows.

Meanwhile, a yellow alert has been sounded in Jalpaiguri district in protected areas along the Teesta, and in Jaldhaka and Raidak. The irrigation department has issued a red alert at unprotected embankment  areas of the Teesta, Torsha and Raidak after heavy rainfall over the past three days.

Several areas of Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar district have been marooned with floodwater entering in more than 1,000 dwellings, district officials informed.

A bridge at Toribari near Salugara was damaged on Thursday and a section of tea plantation of Singhiajhora Tea Estate in Bagdogra was flooded.

Siliguri mayor Ashok Bhattacharya said, "In Siliguri inundation was reported in Wards 1, 4, 5, 31, 32 and 33. Most lanes and streets were under water in these places. Partial inundation has been reported in Wards 10, 24, 43, 44 and 45, We have visited some of the affected areas. Our officials are in touch with the sub-divisional administration and the irrigation department."

Sources from the regional met office in Jalpaiguri said the southwest monsoon is active over sub-Himalayan Bengal and Sikkim and this is leading to heavy to very heavy rain in various areas.

Rainfall measured in the last 24 hours in various regions of north Bengal has been recorded thus:

Darjeeling - 62mm, Siliguri - 97mm, Malbazar - 159mm, Maynaguri -62mm, Alipurduar - 46.20mm, Hasimara - 80mm, Cooch Behar - 43mm, Mathabhanga - 2.60mm, Tufanganj - 6.20mm.