Flood bell rings in Malda

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug. 30: Over 50 labourers are working on a war footing to stem the Ganges’ spillage at Sakurullahapur in Kaliachak II block, irrigation officials said today. The Ganges, meanwhile, has been gushing into the low lying areas, via four places, overflowing its bank, Mr S Mishra, executive engineer, Malda irrigation department, said. Senior officials, including the Malda district magistrate, have requested the irrigation department to take immediate temporary flood protection measures to control the flood situation in this poll-bound district. According to irrigation department officials, the water level of the Ganges had increased from 24.44 metre at 6 a.m. to 24.46 metre at 12 noon today at Manikchak Ghaat. The water level would continue to rise in the next five days due to heavy rainfall in upper catchments, officials said. The irrigation department has already hoisted yellow signal on the unprotected zone along the Ganges’ bank line in Kalaichak II to alert the local residents. The executive engineer, Mr S Mishra, said they would be able to build a temporary second defence line on Friday, raising the height of a PWD to check floodwaters. “Before that the department is trying hard to restrict the floodwaters from overflowing the bank line at Sakurullahapur in Kaliachak II block”, he added. “A red alert would be sounded if the water level will cross 24.94 metres”, a senior engineer said. If the water level of the river crosses the extreme danger mark ~ 25.30 metres ~ the temporary measures would become meaningless,” Mr Mishra said.Beleaguered villagers residing along the bank line in the unprotected zone in Kaliachak II are in search of safer places, sources said. They have reportedly been asked not to panic.Nearly 35 families had to take shelter in the low lying areas near Sakurullahapur after they were rendered homeless due to erosion in the char lands recently, officials said.Senior officials of the Malda district administration said they were ready to face any eventuality.

Fresh erosion likely
MALDA, Aug. 30: Heavy rainfall in the Ganges’ catchment areas over the past few days has finally caused its water to overflow the bank line and gobble up huge tracts of croplands at Domhaat area in Manikchak block, officials said today.The Manikchak block development officer, Mr Sandeep Nag, said that they had apprised locals about the present situation of the Ganges and alerted them about the possibility of fresh erosion on the Ganges’ left bank at Domhaat. Mr Nag informed that 28 families had to be shifted to a safer zone due to erosion caused by the burgeoning Ganges here and the number may go up if the erosion continues. Mr Nag said that the croplands covering a distance of one km in length and 50 metres in width have been eroded away due to fresh erosion on the left bank of the Ganges at Domhaat. Administrative officials visited the flood-affected spot today for making an estimate of relief material to be extended to families, who were forced to shift their bases this morning. n SNS