Malda: Flood water submerges 31 villages, 22,000 affected

Over 31 villages were submerged in the flood waters of Fullara river affecting a population of 22,000 in Malda district, official sources said.

Besides this, the swollen Ganga breached a 2-km stretch of an embankment at Birnagar near Farakka Barrage leading to repair work on war footing. Harishchandrapur block 2, Ratua block 1 and Kaliachak block 1 were the most hit by floods and erosion, ADM, Land Reforms, Malda, Kanchan Chowdhury said.

At least 1000 families were affected by erosion of the Ganga in Kaliachak 3 block, he said. Three flood shelters have been opened and food items are being distributed to the affected people. North Bengal Development minister Rabindranath Ghosh will be visiting the flooded areas on Saturday along with District Magistrate Sarat Dwivedi.

Chowdhury said round-the-clock work is on to repair the breached embankment and protect he Farakka Barrage. Sarkartola, Meinatola and Chinabazar were the most hit by the swollen Ganga and 100 families were shifted to safer places, he said.