Thursday, 19 September 2024
Thursday, 19 September 2024
Several areas in south Bengal face a massive flood risk as the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) released 3 lakh cusecs of water from its Panchet and Maithon dams within seven hours on the night of September 16 amid incessant low pressure rains.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee visited Pursurah in Hooghly district to take stock of the situation and said it is a “man made” flood, caused by the centre as DVC has never released so much water earlier.
Mamata also asked district magistrates to remain alert and Nabanna, the state secretariat, has instructed officials to be prepared to deal with the situation.
Two people have already died because of this flood like situation. While one person died due to wall collapse following rain in Purba Bardhaman district, another died of electrocution in Hooghly district. In Murshidabad, floodwaters swept away a seven-year-old girl while attempting to collect relief supplies with her mother on Monday.
Water levels in many rivers in the state have touched danger limits in several areas. Regions like West Medinipur, including Ghatal, have already been inundated. The heavy rain has also caused a dam to break on the Kure River in Lavpur, Birbhum, affecting 15 villages.
Many residents from Hooghly have left their homes in search of safe shelter because the overflowing Dwarkeshwar River led to floods in the districts. The flood also washed away vast tracts of crops.
Bankura, West Burdwan, East Burdwan, Hooghly, and Howrah along the Damodar river are some areas hardest hit by the flood situation. Damodar and Mundeshwari rivers are flowing above the danger level, causing flooding at Howrah’s Udaynarayanpur and Amta.
The government has started relief camp and rescue work for the riverside residents of Udaynarayanpur area. The administration has started ‘Flood Centres’ camps that are provided with dry food, baby food, drinking water and medicines. The administration has arranged boats for rescue operations. Police and disaster management personnel remain on high alert in the district.
The situation in areas like Arambagh, Goghat in Hooghly is also worrying. The water of Rupnarayan River is flowing above the danger level in Khanakul. Cracks in the embankment have appeared in several places.
A river embankment collapsed in Ward No. 18 area of Panskura Municipality on Wednesday morning. District Magistrate Purnendu Maji said that two teams of NDRF are on their way to rescue the victims. In addition, the administration has brought a rescue team from Digha to handle the situation.
