Around 200 persons were rendered homeless as 29 houses caved in owing to a sudden erosion of the Hogol river banks at Radhaballabhpur village of Basanti in South 24-Parganas since early on Friday.

Local sources said a breach in the dyke along the river had caused the erosion that eventually led to residential houses collapsing like a pack of cards barely within two hours from 4.30am. Although several people lost their properties ahead of the festive season, no loss of life has been reported.

The loss of human lives was averted as the administration had apprehended the vulnerable condition of the dyke and arranged for timely evacuation of at least 15 families from their houses on Thursday night.

After the houses were lost to the erosion, officials of the district administrations, irrigation officials and local MLA Shyamal Mondal rushed to the spot and shifted the victims to Chandrakona free school and provided them with relief materials and food.

South 24-Parganas district magistrate P. Ulaganathan said: “We managed to evacuate 15 families apprehending a threat on Thursday night. The victims have been provided with necessary disaster relief and the irrigation department has begun the repair of the bank.”

The district administration has also identified around 50 more vulnerable houses located on a 250m-stretch along the dyke.

“They will be shifted to safer zones by Friday night,” Mondal told The Telegraph, adding that chief minister Mamata Banerjee had been informed and all necessary support and rehabilitation initiatives would be taken up as per her advice.

A team of engineers of the irrigation department as well as the officials of Canning subdivision examined the damaged dyke so that the repair could be taken up fast. The officials later held meetings to chalk out a rehabilitation plan for the victims since they would not be allowed to stay adjacent to the dyke.

The loss of property has angered local residents who blamed the irrigation department and the district administration for negligence in repairing the dam on time. Local residents claimed they had sensed danger as the water level of Hogol increased alarmingly following the recent spell of incessant rain.

“The dyke lacked maintenance for a long time. We feared a breach and had alerted the panchayat authorities about the poor condition of the dyke. But they did not pay heed to our appeal. Only last night when the water level began to rise further that officials came and asked us to evacuate our houses. Some people managed to shift their valuables, while saw everything disappear into the water in front of their eyes,” said a local resident.

Local residents said the erosion started at around 4.30am when most villagers were asleep and woke up when neighbours raised an alarm.

“I woke up suddenly with a tremor and rushed out of the house fearing an earthquake. A while later my house disappeared into the river. I could save nothing. I was preparing for daughter’s marriage, now everything is gone,” said an inconsolable Runu Seikh, who was surrounded by Ansar Seikh, Feroz Khan, Iman Khan, Mainuddin Ansari, Sahajada Seikh and Anwar Hossain who too have lost their homes.

“I woke up to a crushing sound and rushed outside. I stood helpless as my home was eaten up by the river. I could not save anything," said Anwar and questioned the failure of the government machinery to act on time.

While DM Ulaganathan said that a rehabilitation plan for the victims would be finalised soon, MLA Shyamal Mandal said: "We are planning to shift all people living on the vulnerable stretch adjacent to the dyke. We will not allow them to live there risking their lives and properties."