New areas in Malda district have been flooded by the swollen Ganga, Fulhar and Koshi rivers.

Besides, the Kalindri started eroding chunks of land in some areas of Englishbazar block on Tuesday.

Although the district administrations has started distributing relief materials on war-footing in the affected areas, the residents of inundated areas apprehend the situation might worsen because of consistent rise in water levels of the rivers.

Sources said at least 10 villages in Mahanandatola and Bilaimari gram panchayats in Ratua 1 block have been flooded by the Fulhar. Houses and agricultural plots were submerged. The affected people were shifted to safer places.

“Although the water level in the river decreased slightly, there is no sign that the water will recede from the flooded areas in the next few days. Another major problem that we have been facing is severe scarcity of drinking water,” said Tuhin Mandal, a resident of Mahanandatola.

On Tuesday, Nitin Singhania, the district magistrate of Malda, rushed to Ratua 1 block to oversee the situation. He has instructed officials to stand by the affected people and extend all possible help to them.

“The Fulhar river causes flooding in late monsoon.

We are assessing the damage and taking all necessary steps to help the families,” he said.

Also, in Harishchandrapur 2 block, the Bhakuria area has also been inundated by Fulhar.

“Hundreds of acres of agricultural land have gone under water. The harvest has been badly affected. We have lost our crop,” said a farmer.

Meanwhile, the Ganga has flooded Birnagar 1 panchayat of Kaliachak 3 block.

Around 100 families have been shifted from their homes, said administrative sources. Today, Sureshchandra Rano, the SDO of Malda sadar and Chandana Sarkar, the MLA visited the affected areas and distributed relief materials among them.

The Ganga has also inundated some villages of Hiranandapur panchayat that is in Bhutni, the largest islet in Ganga located under Manikchak block of the district. Altogether, 50 families have left their flooded homes and are staying in flood shelters.

In the Manikchak area, the river has been flowing above the extreme danger level for the past three-four days.

In flooded areas of Bhutni, the residents are also facing the problem of drinking water supply.

“We have no inkling when the water will go down. Our houses are under water and we could move out with only some basic belongings,” said Krishna Mandal, an affected villager.

Meanwhile, Kalindri, a river that flows through Englishbazar block, has started eroding land in Fulbaria area of the block.

According to the residents, a stretch of around 50 metres of land had been eroded away on Tuesday. “We apprehend further loss of land and houses as it has no embankment,” said Abdul Areb, a resident.

The erosion has also made the administration to react. Instructions have been passed to the state irrigation department to carry out palliative work on an emergency basis, said a source.