Rain leaves Siliguri areas water-logged

SNS, 11 July 2020, SILIGURLI : Life came to a virtual halt in several areas in Siliguri town and its suburbs followingt orrential rain fall for the past 24 hours that led to water-logging and kept people mostly indoors.

The Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has pressed water pumps into service in sonic wards to drain out the accumulated water.

The incessant rainfall has left Wards like 4, 5, 30, 31, 37, 38 and 39 water-logged, while many people were stuck in their homes. Motorists also had a tough time negotiating the accumulated water on the roads inthe affected areas, and people at sonic placed were seen wading through knee-deep waters.

According to the irrigation and waterways department, Siliguri received 44.60 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours. Therainfall also led to a rise in the waterlevel of the Mahananda river.

Many agricultural fields, including vast swathes of paddyland in the rural fringes, were also submerged under water, it is learnt. Some areas in blocks under the Siliguri Sub Division were also waterlogged, sources said.

The water pumping machines are being used to flush out the water in the town's Wards based on the requirements, officials said.

Civic body commissioner Sonam Wangdi Bhutia said they were monitoring the situation.

"We are keeping a close watch on the situation, while we are also taking necessary steps," Mr Bhutia said.