Kolkata, Sept. 4 -- Continuous rain and water released from DVC reservoirs triggered a flood-like situation across several West Bengal districts on Friday, inundating villages, farmland and roads, while killing at least four people in rain-related incidents.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari held a review meeting at Jal Sampad Bhawan and said the administration was fully prepared, urging people not to panic as water levels were expected to recede. District magistrates, police, SDRF and NDRF teams have been deployed for evacuations, with arrangements to protect livestock.
The DVC said heavy rain in the upper catchment sharply increased reservoir inflows. Coordinated management with West Bengal and Jharkhand helped regulate releases from Maithon and Panchet dams, with the DVC claiming 70 per cent flood moderation. Adhikari praised the DVC for safely managing the flows despite heavy rainfall and pressure.
Hooghly, Howrah and Bankura are among the worst-hit. Nine panchayats across seven blocks in rural Hooghly are heavily inundated. Amta and Udaynarayanpur in Howrah have also reported flooded villages and roads. In Sonamukhi's Uttar Nityanandapur, two families remain confined to their homes amid waist-deep water, while farmland is submerged. Ghatal has reported water entering homes and classrooms.
In Khanakul, rising river levels forced the suspension of ferry services, partially cutting off villages. The temporary bridge over the Mayurakshi at Sainthia was submerged, halting traffic and pedestrian movement. At Bolpur, the Kopai inundated the Kankalitala temple premises and several municipal wards.
The administration is distributing drinking water, dry rations and cooked food. Health camps have medicines and anti-venom injections, while speedboats are ready for rescue operations.
In Bankura, 76-year-old Beli Ruidas died after a mud wall collapsed on her at Kundpushkarini in Sonamukhi. At Kushtora in Simlapal, Palaku Baskey and his wife Soma died when their house wall collapsed while they slept. In Bolpur's Kashimbazar, 19-year-old Subrata Pal died after reportedly coming in contact with an 11000-volt electric pole while retrieving a drum from a waterlogged area.
The weather office has forecast scattered light to moderate rain with thunderstorms in Murshidabad, Nadia, Birbhum, East Burdwan, Purulia and the two 24-Parganas on Saturday. Another spell of heavy rain is forecast in parts of South Bengal on Wednesday and Thursday next week.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.