Culverts and bridges hit 1

TT, 12 July 2019. Siliguri: Heavy downpour for the past couple of days has caused waterlogging in many places of Siliguri and its adjoining areas, inconveniencing thousands of people.

A culvert in Phansidewa block of the Siliguri sub-division was washed away by a stream on Friday. At least three more bridges and culverts have got weakened because of the incessant rain and the resultant currents in the swelling rivers and streams.

Tapas Sarkar, the sabhadhipati of the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, visited some affected areas of the sub-division on Friday and said he had asked officials to make an assessment of the losses.

"A culvert at the Gangaram tea estate under Phansidewa block that was built about 20 years ago over the Taipu (a hilly stream) has been washed way. The damaged culvert has affected about 5,000 villagers of Gangaram, Tarabari and Bhairodanga as they are facing problems in reaching Choupukuria near Bagdogra," Sarkar said.

According to him, the rainfall has also caused waterlog- ging in areas such as Sisabari, Bhanunagar, Samarnagar, Salbari, Debidanga, Dakshin Palash and Tumbajote, all located in the Matigara block.

"A couple of bridges -- one over the Swarnamoti river in Kharibari and the over the Panchanoi river in Sukna -- have weakened. We will soon repair these bridges. Also, several acres of farmland have got inundated," the sabhadhipati said.

The swollen Mahananda river that flows across Siliguri has flooded some low-lying areas on both banks.

Rainwater has inundated New Pokaijote, Ujanu, Ashoknagar, Shaktigarh, Rani Sati Mandir and Debasish Colony.

The rainfall has also affected different areas in Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar districts.

Because of the heavy shower in Bhutan Hills, the water level in the Torsha river has increased and damaged at least 10 houses in Tolabusty of Jaigaon.

Water has also spilled into the Jaldapara National Park as the Torsha has washed away an embankment.

Train movement along the Dooars was restored on Friday morning..