Ganges near extreme level

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Aug 9: The Malda irrigation officials today said that the Ganges was flowing just below the extreme danger level, 24.94 metres, at Manikchak Ghaat here.The water level in the river has remained constant since yesterday, said Mr Soumen Misra, executive engineer of the Malda irrigation and waterways department. According to Mr Misra, the present trend of the Ganges is “peculiar”.“It could lead to floods in the district,” he said. Mr Misra added that the river does not have the capacity to receive more waters in case of fresh floods in the upper catchment areas.“If the floods continue in the upper catchment areas, the water level in the Ganges cross the extreme danger level here break its banks, inundating several parts of the district, the irrigation officials, said.They added that precautionary measures have been taken to avoid floods