West Midnapore Flood Situation Worsens as Relief Work Begins

The flood situation in West Midnapore is becoming serious as rising water levels in the Keleghai and Subarnarekha rivers affect thousands of people. All 13 gram panchayats in the Sabang block are currently impacted by floodwaters, while conditions are also deteriorating in Narayangarh, Mohanpur, Dantan, and Keshiary.

Casualties and Relief Operations

Two people, including a three-year-old child, have died due to drowning in separate incidents in Sabang. District Magistrate Bijin Krishna held a review meeting with administrative officials to address the crisis. The local administration has increased relief efforts by providing dry food, cooked meals, drinking water, and tarpaulins. Boats and tractors are being used to transport essential supplies to areas where road connectivity has been cut off.

Dam Water Release and Rising Levels

Water discharge from the Tenughat reservoir in Jharkhand has increased from 7,000 cusecs to 30,000 cusecs. Officials stated that this water will reach the Panchet dam in approximately 18 hours, which will require an increase in water release from that facility as well. Currently, about 29,000 cusecs of water are being released from Panchet. The increased discharge is causing concern for low-lying areas in East Bardhaman, Hooghly, and Howrah districts.

Status of Dams and Barrages

Heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas has forced water levels to rise again despite a brief period of relief. The water level of the Barakar river, a major tributary of the Damodar, was recorded at 456.03 feet on Wednesday afternoon. Officials have identified this as a concerning situation for the Durgapur Barrage. The state administration continues to monitor the water levels closely as the situation remains volatile. You can find more information on flood management guidelines at National Disaster Management Authority.