Defence to look into dyke breach

Statesman News Service

MALDA/BALURGHAT, 19 AUG: After alerting the Army yesterday, the Malda district administration today deployed civil-defence workers at Bhaluka in Harishchandrapur block II apprehending a breach in the dyke. The decision was taken after the Fulohar River eroded an embankment at Bhaluka Bazaar last evening.

The Chanchal SDO, Miss Debjani Datta said: “Civil defence personnel are in the affected area ready to render service.”

The district administration is continuing with the dumping of sand filled gunny bags to arrest erosion. In addition, an island opposite Bhaluka Bazaar is being trimmed to divert the water and check erosion. The administration has alerted the locals to shift to safer areas. It is learnt that nearly 250 families have started to shift from the Bhaluka Bazaar and adjoin areas.

The administration has started preparations for disaster management and is procuring boats for rescue operation if needed and earmarking flood shelters. The district magistrate has convened an emergency meeting for flood management.

Meanwhile, the Tangan and Punarvaba rivers have flooded fresh areas in Banshihari and Tapan blocks in South Dinajpur district and waterlogging was reported from the low lying areas under Gangarampur Municipality.

According to the South Dinajpur district magistrate Mr Asoke Banerjee, the Punarvaba has breached embankment to inundate fresh areas in Tapan block. According to the DM, the river breached embankment at Sutail in Ajmatpur gram panchayat, Tapan block and then at Bajrapukur. “Ten families from the two villages were shifted to safer places and the irrigation department has started repair work on the damaged embankment,” the DM informed.

According to the DM, the Banshihari BDO is supervising relief and allied work in his block after the Tangan River inundated several villages in the block. An irrigation department official Mr Asis Sahu, said the Tangan was flowing above the danger mark and the other rivers were in spate.

Waterlogging has also occurred in some areas of Balurghat town following rise in the water level of the Atraye River. The residents complained of drinking water problem.

Husband guilty in identity mix-up free

MALDA, 19 AUG: The Malda district judge, Mr BC Maity, today discharged Phekan Mandal and two others implicated erroneously in the murder of Phekan's wife Sita Mandal on 3 July, 2004. The police had recovered the body of an unidentified woman near Panchanandapur in Kaliachak-II and had assumed it as Sita's.

The supposedly ‘dead’ Sita appeared in court on 30 May this year, proving that her husband had not murdered her as presumed by the police. SNS

Jewellery shop loot

MALDA, 19 AUG: Criminals hurled bombs inside a jeweller’s shop and threatened its owner Prasanta Sarker with arms before looting the shop at Eight Mile under Malda police station last night.

According to the owner, they looted gold and silver ornament plus cash amounting to about Rs 1.50 lakh. SNS

Food poisoning

MALDA, 19 AUG: Six members of a family were admitted to the Malda district hospital with food poisoning. Abdul Hamid, the head of the family, and his five children fell unconscious around 10 p.m. last night at home in Ratua after dinner. SNS