1-lakh affected, 3 dead in floods in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 29: Water level of almost all rivers in Cooch Behar district is still flowing over danger levels. Water level of rivers like Kaljani, Raidak, Sankosh and Gadadhar is showing a rising trend. Yellow danger signal is still over the major rivers like Teesta, Torsa and Mansai. Though this district is still under "high flood situation" the situation is improving, officials claimed. Six blocks out of twelve in Cooch Behar district were affected by the flood situation.

 

State food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary claimed that about one-lakh people of this district were affected in the flood situation. He assured that there would be no dearth of relief for the flood-affected people. Arrangements will be made to meet the additional demand of kerosene, he added.

 

The flood situation took its toll in Cooch Behar yesterday. Cooch Behar DM Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha admitted that the floods claimed three lives yesterday. One Sahidul Islam (24) was drowned in swelling Torsa river at Damodarpur village under Takagachh Rajarhat Gram Panchayat in Cooch Behar Sadar sub-division at noon. In another incident one Sudhir Barman (50) was drowned in Mansai river at Paradubi village under Mathabhanga-II block on yesterday afternoon. Nripendra Barman (52) of Khagrabari Gram Panchayat area was washed away in overflowed Torsa last night.

 

A high level meeting was held at Cooch Behar over the flood situation today. Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda, state food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary, district magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha and others were present at the meeting. The CZP sabhadhipati said that Rs 2-crore was sought from the chief minister's relief fund to meet the flood situation.  

 

A few thousand distressed people took shelter both at government relief camps and highlands. Cooch Behar DM Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha said more than seventy-five relief camps were set up at different flood affected areas. Considering the gravity of the situation one Additional District Magistrate was deployed in each of the five sub-divisions to supervise rescue and relief operations, the DM said. He also said that the situation of some areas in Tufanganj sub-division was causing anxiety afresh today.

 

The rainfall recorded in the last 24 hours at Cooch Behar is 65.60-mm, at Tufanganj it is 30.80-mm and at Mathabhanga it is 10.60-mm. Total rainfall recorded in this season in Cooch Behar is 1547.10-mm, in Tufanganj 2045.50-mm and in Mathabhanga 1608.40-mm, Flood Control Room sources said today.

 

Following raise of water level in Raidak the flood situation worsened in villages like Rampur, Falimari, Jaldhoa and Baro-laukuthi near the Assam-West Bengal border. A few hundred families lying marooned in areas like Deocharai, Chilakhana, Balarampur, Notafela, Gitaldaha and Haldibari. It was reported that a section of about 100-metre of an embankment of Kaljani at Baxikuthi of Deocharai was washed away.

 

At Jorsimuli village under Kedarhat Gram Panchayat area in Mathabhanga 500 families turned marooned by floodwater. In Cooch Behar-II block, overflowed water of Torsa marooned about 500 families. Erosion also started to make the situation worse. About 50 dwelling residences were damaged due to erosion at Karisal village.

  

Following the flood situation the district authorities alerted all the residents of the villages adjacent to the rivers in protected and unprotected areas. All the SDOs, BDOs and others concerned were also advised by the district administration to keep constant watch on the situation. []

 

FB lifts bandh call

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 29: Forward Bloc withdrew its 12-hour bandh call over hawker issue that was to be observed on 2 August. State committee member of Forward Bloc Mr Udayan Guha claimed that the district magistrate assured them today that the demand for rehabilitation for the footpath hawkers would be considered. Following this assurance they lifted the bandh call, Mr Guha said. []