FLOOD FEAR

River water levels rising in Cooch Behar

Incessant downpour at the plains and also on the catchment areas turned the rivers inflated in Cooch Behar district. As the water levels have crossed the danger marks Red signal has been flashed on the Teesta and Yellow signal on the Torsa.

Rainfall in the past 24 hours (till this morning) recorded at Tufanganj 300-mm, in Cooch Behar 121-mm and at Mathabhanga 49-mm, according to Flood Control Room sources.

Red signal have been flashed on the inflated Teesta at Mekhliganj upto Bangladesh border. The irrigation division is keeping constant watch on the situation.

In Cooch Behar town the Torsa has crossed the Yellow danger mark. Following orders issued by the authorities concerned the ferry services at Fanci-ghat and Hanskhawa-ghat have remained closed since yesterday.

Water levels of Raidak-I, Raidak-II, Kaljani, Ghargharia and Mansai are also rising. All the SDOs and the BDOs in the district have been asked to keep watch on the situation according to the Cooch Behar ADM (D) Mr PL Mahapatra.

At Mekhliganj sub-division, the areas like 25-Teesta Payosthi, 40-Payosthi, 72-Nijtaraf, Kuchlibari and Paniyarchar turned submerged by overflowed water of the Teesta. Many dwellings of the lower areas got submerged.

A senior irrigation division official hoped that as the downpour stopped from this afternoon the situation may turn to better very soon.