Red signal over Mansai, yellow on other rivers

 

COOCH BEHAR, July 27: Due to incessant downpour at the upper catchment areas and on the plains, the water levels of all the major rivers are rising in Cooch Behar district, causing concern to the residents of the villages near the rivers. The water levels of Mansai at Mathabhanga, Torsa at Hasimara, Sankosh at Tufanganj and Teesta at Mekhliganj already crossed the danger mark. Red signal was imposed on Mansai at Mathabhanga upto Indo-Bangladesh on last night. Yellow signal was imposed on Sankosh at Tufanganj, Teesta at Mekhliganj and Torsa at Hasimara, according to Flood Control room sources at Cooch Behar.

 

Due to continuous downpour for the last ten days the lower areas of Cooch Behar turned water logged. Normal life was disrupted in Cooch Behar town. A warning for more heavy rainfall during the next 24-hours reached at the district head quarter today. It is feared that if the downpour continues for a few more days, the water levels of other rivers would cross the danger mark.

 

All the residents of the villages adjacent to the rivers in protected and unprotected areas were alerted about the rising water levels of the rivers by the authorities. All the five Sub-divisional Officers, the BDOs of the twelve blocks and others concerned were alerted by the district administration to keep strict watch on the situation. They were asked to be ready with rescue facilities and relief materials including tarpaulin sheets and dry foods. Already a few affected families were shifted to safer areas at Sitai, official sources said.

 

The rainfall recorded in the last 24 hours at Cooch Behar is 23.50-mm, at Tufanganj it is 26.60 mm and at Mathabhanga it is 57.40-mm. Total rainfall recorded in this season in Cooch Behar is 1426.90-mm, in Tufanganj 1860.90-mm and in Mathabhanga 1549-mm. []