N Bengal flood worsens, several places marooned

HT, 25 Jul 2016, Kolkata: The flood situation in North Bengal deteriorated on Sunday after the region received the highest amount of rainfall on a single day in the last 20 years. Many places in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar are under water. Several bridges have been washed away. The Met office has warned that the situation is likely to worsen on Monday. The flood situation in North Bengal worsened on Sunday as many parts in the region witnessed highest rainfall in last 20 years, leaving several places inundated, bridges damaged, disconnecting scores of villages.

The administration faced people’s ire due to these.

Thousands of people have taken shelter in relief camps and on railway tracks as the army have been asked to be on standby. Many rivers in the region were flowing above danger level. The situation is likely to worsen as weather forecast predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall in next 24 hours.

Among the most affected places in the region are Siliguri and its surroundings areas in Darjeeling district, Dooars and Alipurduar districts. Kalchini, Madarihat and Kumarga mb locks under Alipurduar district and parts of Coochbehar and Uttar Dinajpur district were also affected. In Siliguri, many wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation have inundated. The construction of Asian Highway II has blocked several drains. It has caused damage in Upper Bagdogra where more than hundred houses, shops and schools have been inundated.

According to MET office Siliguri witnessed highest rainfall in last 20 years. In last 24 hours, , Siliguri received 337. 4 mm rainfall. Rainfall above 210 mm in 24 hours is considered heavy. The weather forecast for next 24 hours predicted that one or two places in the region will witness very heavy rainfall while other places will get heavy rainfall.

Among other places that received very heavy rainfall are Nagrakata ( 305.6mm), Dina (280.8 mm), Murti (253.6), Buxa Dooars (237 mm). Life in many places in Dooars has been thrown out of gear as several bridges under Nagrakata block have been washed out, leaving several villages disconnected. In Banarhat, water was flowing above railway track.

Many tea gardens and labour lines in Dooars and Terai have been submerged. In places like Bagdogra, Champasari and Eastern Bypass, agitated people resorted to road blockades to protest against the indifferent attitude of the administration. Siliguri Municipal Corporation is finding it hard to carry out relief measures as the civic officials claim paucity of fund as the main reason. Barun Roy, the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner, told Hindustan Times that several relief camps have been set up in Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. The situation is under control and people in the low lying areas have been shifted to safer places. SS Ahluwalia, union minister of state for agriculture, has requested the Darjeeling district magistrate to take necessary steps to ensure that people get adequate relief. Ahluwalia also said that thousands of people in Siliguri are unable to come out of their homes and there is fear of epidemic of waterborne diseases. Sourav Chakraborty, chairman of Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority, visited many affected areas of Siliguri and Jalpaiguri on Sunday.

Among the most affected places in the region are Siliguri and its surroundings areas in Darjeeling district, Dooars and Alipurduar districts. Kalchini, Madarihat and Kumarga mb locks under Alipurduar district and parts of Coochbehar and Uttar Dinajpur district were also affected. In Siliguri, many wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation have inundated. The construction of Asian Highway II has blocked several drains. It has caused damage in Upper Bagdogra where more than hundred houses, shops and schools have been inundated.

According to MET office Siliguri witnessed highest rainfall in last 20 years. In last 24 hours, , Siliguri received 337. 4 mm rainfall. Rainfall above 210 mm in 24 hours is considered heavy. The weather forecast for next 24 hours predicted that one or two places in the region will witness very heavy rainfall while other places will get heavy rainfall.

Among other places that received very heavy rainfall are Nag rakata ( 305.6mm), Dina (280.8 mm), Murti (253.6), Buxa Dooars (237 mm). Life in many places in Dooars has been thrown out of gear as several bridges under Nagrakata block have been washed out, leaving several villages disconnected. In Banarhat, water was flowing above railway track.

Many tea gardens and labour lines in Dooars and Terai have been submerged. In places like Bagdogra, Champasari and Eastern Bypass, agitated people resorted to road blockades to protest against the indifferent attitude of the administration. Siliguri Municipal Corporation is finding it hard to carry out relief measures as the civic officials claim paucity of fund as the main reason.

Barun Roy, the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner, told Hindustan Times that several relief camps have been set up in Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. The situation is under control and people in the low lying areas have been shifted to safer places. Among the most affected places in the region are Siliguri and its surroundings areas in Darjeeling district, Dooars and Alipurduar districts. Kalchini, Madarihat and Kumarga mb locks under Alipurduar district and parts of Coochbehar and Uttar Dinajpur district were also affected. In Siliguri, many wards of Siliguri Municipal Corporation have inundated. The construction of Asian Highway II has blocked several drains. It has caused damage in Upper Bagdogra where more than hundred houses, shops and schools have been inundated.

According to MET office Siliguri witnessed highest rainfall in last 20 years. In last 24 hours, , Siliguri received 337. 4 mm rainfall. Rainfall above 210 mm in 24 hours is considered heavy. The weather forecast for next 24 hours predicted that one or two places in the region will witness very heavy rainfall while other places will get heavy rainfall.

Among other places that received very heavy rainfall are Nag rakata ( 305.6mm), Dina (280.8 mm), Murti (253.6), Buxa Dooars (237 mm). Life in many places in Dooars has been thrown out of gear as several bridges under Nagrakata block have been washed out, leaving several villages disconnected. In Banarhat, water was flowing above railway track.

Many tea gardens and labour lines in Dooars and Terai have been submerged. In places like Bagdogra, Champasari and Eastern Bypass, agitated people resorted to road blockades to protest against the indifferent attitude of the administration. Siliguri Municipal Corporation is finding it hard to carry out relief measures as the civic officials claim paucity of fund as the main reason.

Barun Roy, the Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner, told Hindustan Times that several relief camps have been set up in Coochbehar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri and Darjeeling districts. The situation is under control and people in the low lying areas have been shifted to safer places. SS Ahluwalia, union minister of state for agriculture, has requested the Darjeeling district magistrate to take necessary steps to ensure that people get adequate relief. Ahluwalia also said that thousands of people in Siliguri are unable to come out of their homes and there is fear of epidemic of waterborne diseases. Sourav Chakraborty, chairman of Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority, visited many affected areas of Siliguri and Jalpaiguri on Sunday.