An instinct for self-preservation has prompted residents of Sahebnagar-Kanchantola, a village in Manikchak block of Malda district on the banks of Kalindri river, to team up and prevent erosion caused by the river, without waiting for measures by the state irrigation department.

Though officials of the department have promised necessary steps to combat the erosion caused by Kalindri, an apparently calm rivulet that suddenly turned destructive, villagers said they would rather trust themselves to save houses near the river and a high school with around 850 students.

Since Tuesday afternoon, erosion started in the village, they said.

“The river has already devoured a vast yard measuring around 100 metres long and 40 metres wide, and a stretch of a village road,” said Mozaffar Rehman, a resident.

Such a situation, he said, made villagers convene an informal meeting where it was decided that they would pile bamboo sticks and dump sandbags to prevent the river from gobbling fresh stretches

“This is called the dip-tree method. We are also arranging sandbags to check erosion. We sought help from villagers and they spontaneously came forward,” said Ainul Haque, another villager.

The villagers, sources said, were robbed of their sleep as the rapid erosion left around 25 houses vulnerable.

“We could not wait for the formalities of the state irrigation department. It would take time for them to start the work as they will visit the site, assess the damage and then start anti-erosion work. The threat is imminent. By the time they start work, some of these houses would be swallowed by Kalindri,” a resident said.

They also expressed strong discontent over the quality of anti-erosion work done by the irrigation department in the area.

“Merely three months back, the department carried out anti-erosion work here. We fail to understand how erosion can start afresh then,” a resident said, indicating quality was sub-par.

On Wednesday, some officials of the department went to the village only to be snubbed by the disgruntled villagers who asked them to leave and said that they could take care of themselves.

As the news spread, the sabhadhipati of Malda Zilla Parishad and the district magistrate asked the irrigation department to immediately take up the work. Accordingly, the department started anti-erosion work near the village on a war-footing from Thursday.

“The water level of Kalindri depends on Fulhar river. The abrupt rise and fall in water levels of Kalindri causes trouble without a hint. Our officials have taken stock of the situation. We have appraised the district administration and from Thursday, anti-erosion work has started,” said Pranab Kumar Samanta, an executive engineer of irrigation department in Malda.