Flood situation worsens in Cooch Behar

 

COOCH BEHAR, Sept. 7: The overall flood situation in Cooch Behar district worsened today. Water levels of all the rivers are increasing rapidly. Water of Mansai is flowing over Red danger level in Mathabhanga. Red signal flashed over Torsa and Jaldhaka too. Yellow signal was flashed over Raidak. The water levels of Gadadhar and Kaljani are showing an upward tendency.

 

A record rainfall of 300.20-mm was recorded at Tufanganj in the last 24-hours. Rainfall in Cooch Behar and Mathabhanga was 165-mm and 105-mm respectively during that period. Lower areas of Cooch Behar, Tufanganj and Mathabhanga towns are waterlogged. In Ward No. 10 in Tufanganj the citizens are using boats for conveyance.

 

The river water breached a 30-metre stretch of embankment of Kaljani at Khapaidanga in Cooch Behar-II block. The Kapalipara Primary School building is in danger of washing out. The river water submerged Arya Colony, Deuripara, Bhuchungmari and Mallikpara. The water of overflowed Torsa entered into Patlakhawa and Ambari. 13 Gram Panchayat areas in Tufanganj are affected. Rescue operation started in the flooded areas to save the people.

 

23 Gram Panchayat areas of three blocks in Mathabhanga were affected from the water of Mansai, Jaldhaka and Sutunga rivers. Floodwater is flowing over Mathabhanga-Siliguri road at Chenakata and Ichhaganj. The condition of the century-old road bridge over Sutunga is in danger. Vehicular traffic was prohibited over this bridge. Country boats were deployed to rescue the residents of waterlogged areas.

 

In Mekhliganj, the irrigation division personnel are still trying to save the breached embankment of Teesta at Kuchlibari. A large number of people at Nijtaraf and Tista-payosthi are affected as the overflowed Teesta waterlogged the area. The situation at Uchulpukuri and Jamaldaha is also worsened by water of Jaldhaka and Sutunga rivers. Gopalpur got disconnected as the Terenga damaged the lone road of the area. About 15,000 people were reportedly affected due to the flood situation in this area. BSF jawans jumped into rescue operation at the Indo-Bangladesh border area in Mekhliganj.

 

The flood situation is grave in Mathabhanga and Tufanganj sub-divisions. About 10,000 affected people were rescued and sent to relief camps and other safer places. District magistrate Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha alerted all SDOs and BDOs to remain ready to meet the flood situation. State forest minister Mr Ananta Roy and state food and supply minister Mr Paresh Adhikary expressed their concern over the flood situation. They instructed the officials concerned to keep strict vigil over the situation. They also asked the officials to start rescue and relief operations as quickly as needed. []