Incessant rains since Sunday led to the rise in water levels of different water bodies including Maithon and Panchet dam situated on the Barakar and Damodar river respectively at Nirsa block of Dhanbad.

The water level in Maithon rose to 481.8 feet, the highest in the last six years in the month of September though it is still flowing 9 feet below the danger level. The water level in Panchet which rose to 411.7 feet and is 14 feet lower than the danger level.

The situation is also the same in Topchanchi lake, a natural lake located around 35 km from district headquarters which is overflowing at the height level of 75 feet.

Meanwhile, the heavy downpour also caused the water level of river Damodar to rise and preparations have been made to raise the level of two motors situated outside the Jamadoba Based Water treatment plant of Jharkhand Mineral Area Development Authority. The move has been made to prevent the submergence of the motors which would result in thwarting the water supply to more than 10,000 residents of Jharia and Katras.

A view of Maithon dam after heavy rain in Dhanbad today. Shabbir Hussain

Talking to The Telegraph Online today, Apurba Saha, Public Relation Officer of Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC),said, “Heavy rainfall in the upper valley including Koderma, Giridih, Chatra etc led to the rise in water level but the situation is under control and we have also yet not received any direction from our regulatory Body, Central Water Commission (CWC) with regard to the increase in Water level of Maithon.”

“As rain is still continuing, we are expecting more rise in water level today and accordingly will take decisions,” Saha said.

Regarding the rise in water level of river Damodar, Pankaj Kumar Jha, Sub Divisional Officer of Water Supply Division of JMADA said, “We have made arrangements for the lifting of motors situated outside the Water Treatment Plant of Jamadoba to avert any Water Supply disruption in Jharia and Katras."

Meanwhile, the safety department of coal company BCCL has also sounded alert in its different operational areas in Barora, Block 2, Govindpur, Katras, Sijua, Kusnuda, West Jharia, Putki Balihari, Bastacola, Lodna, East Jharia and Chanch Victoria area.

AK Singh, General Manage (Safety) of BCCL said, “All 12 area level control rooms besides the headquarter level control rooms have been put on alert while sufficient deployment motors pumps for carrying out dewatering have also been made”

Meanwhile, the incessant rains have also led to waterlogging in several parts of the district including, the Tapovan Colony of Dhanbad, Barmasia, Jahaztand in Bhowra, DRM Chowk etc.