Incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of the Torsha that descends from the neighbouring country of Bhutan has swelled the river and its streams during the past 24 hours.

While the river has started eroding away chunks of land from tea estates and has also flooded some hamlets and forest areas in Alipurduar district, one of its streams has snapped the direct connectivity between Alipurduar, the district headquarters and Falakata town as it is flowing over the road along the route.

Sources said the Torsha has damaged a stretch of 250 metres of its embankment at Dalsinghpara in Kalchini block and is constantly gobbling land. It has also flooded the adjoining Narbahadurbusty and the Nilpara forest area.

Sujit Bose, a resident of Narbahadurbusty, said it has rained heavily in the area and also in the Bhutan hills on Thursday which has led to the flood situation.

“The administration should take up anti-erosion works on an emergency basis or else, Torsha will erode more land,” he said.

Representatives of Dalsinghpara panchayat have also expressed their concern. Sambhu Jaiswal, deputy chief of the panchayat, said altogether, around 4,500 people have got affected in the sudden flood.

“We have contacted the block administration for relief. Officials of the state irrigation department have also visited the spot,” he said.

In past 24 hours, that is, till 8.30am on Friday, it has rained 70mm to 120mm in different places of Alipurduar district, said sources at the Indian Meteorological Department.

“There is also a forecast of heavy to very heavy rain (70mm to 200mm) across the sub-Himalayan Bengal during next four-five days as the southwest monsoon is active in the region,” said a weather expert.

The heavy downpour has also swelled Buri-Torsha, a tributary of the Torsha. Since early Friday morning, it has started flowing over the road in the Balurghat area along the Falakata-Alipurduar route.

As a result, traffic movement along NH 31D – the direct route between the two towns – has stopped. Vehicles had to take a detour of around 25 kilometres via Pundibari to reach Alipurduar from Falakata and vice-versa.

“The road condition along this route is poor and now, the situation has gone to such an extent that streams have started flowing over the road. The administration should look into it as taking a detour means we have spent additional time and money,” said Dipak Das, a daily commuter.

Sources in the administration said they are waiting for the water to recede. “The damage would be assessed then and necessary work would be carried out to restore the route,” said an official.