A fresh flood situation erupted in Malda during the past 24 hours as the Ganga swelled due to rainfall in its upper catchments and has inundated villages in three panchayat of Bhutni, an islet located in the river under Manikchak block of the district, thus affecting around one-and-a-half lakh people.

The Ganga, locals said, is flowing above the extreme danger level. Also, the Fulhar river, which flows nearby, is flowing a little below the danger level.

The swollen Ganga has also led to the deaths of two minors in the islet while families have started shifting to safer places.

As water levels rose due to the flood, two boys, Ifraz Mian, 13, of Dakshin Chandipur, and Chandrabhany Mandal, 2, of Uttar Chandripur died.

An area of concrete houses at Bhutni islet under water on Wednesday.

“The water reached near their homes and they fell into the water by accident. Both died by drowning,” the source added.

Sources in the administration said villages in three panchayats, namely, Uttar and Dakshin Chandipur and Hiranandapur, have been flooded by the Ganga.

“We are extending all possible assistance to the people. Families have been shifted and relief materials were distributed among them. Our officers are keeping a watch over the situation. Also, 50 boats have been kept there for emergency evacuation of the villagers,” said a senior official of the district administration.

Sabina Yeasmin, the minister of state for the irrigation and waterways department held a meeting in Manikchak on Wednesday.

After the meeting, she alleged that some CPM-backed organisations prevented workers engaged by her department from carrying out flood-protection works in the affected areas.

“We are trying to combat the situation and are working on a war footing. However, some people associated with the CPM are preventing them. We will not sit idle and will send the staff to the spot tomorrow again (Thursday),” said Yeasmin.

Sources said that as the workers reached the flooded areas some people who are demonstrating under the banner of Bhutni Bachao Mancha that has been floated by local CPM leaders, chased and forced the workers to leave the place.

Mancha representatives alleged that the workers were simply dropping sandbags into the river. “Instead of proper initiatives to prevent the river from advancing, the department indulged in an eyewash. This irked the residents who are troubled by the flood,” said Debajyoti Sinha, associated with the Mancha.