Malda, Sept. 7 -- The flood situation in Bhutni, in Malda's Manikchak block, deteriorated on Monday, with more than 59 villages inundated and thousands of families affected. The administration warned that the situation could worsen over the next 48 hours as heavy water is expected to flow downstream from the upper catchment.

On Monday morning, the Ganga was flowing 34 cm above the extreme danger level at Bhutni. Officials said the river remained steady at Patna in Bihar, but the water is expected to move downstream, potentially raising the river level further.

Floodwater has submerged the road near Bhutni Bridge, threatening the main communication link between the char and mainland. The administration has started constructing a temporary road using sand, bricks, soil and stone, which is expected to be ready shortly.

A day earlier, three state ministers visited Bhutni to assess the flood situation. Backward Classes Welfare, Mass Education Extension and Library Services minister Gouri Shankar Ghosh, minister of state for Law Biraj Biswas and minister of state for Irrigation Jewel Murmu inspected affected areas, including a sluice gate at Dakshin Chandipur.

Ghosh said reaching relief to affected people was the administration's first priority and those stranded in submerged areas would be shifted to safe shelters and provided food and clothing.

District Superintendent of Police Anupam Singh said police were using boats to patrol flooded areas. "The Bhutni police station has also been inundated," he said, adding that arrangements had been made near Bhutni Bridge to receive complaints temporarily.

Meanwhile, a 150-year-old Shiva temple at Muliram Tola in Ratua-I was swallowed by the Ganga amid continuing erosion.

Visiting erosion-hit Khaskol in English Bazar block, BJP South Malda president Ajay Ganguly criticised previous governments, alleging that they had kept Malda's industries closed while allowing the "Ganga erosion industry" to continue. He said the present government would pursue permanent rehabilitation after the monsoon.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.