Farakka Barrage lock gate washed away

Kolkata: A damaged lock gate of the Farakka Barrage in West Bengal`s Murshidabad district was washed away though the water level was not affected, an official said Monday.

"Gate number 49 was earlier damaged and was slated to be replaced. But it collapsed on Sunday evening," Jangipur sub-divisional officer Priyanka Singhla said.

"However, the collapse has not affected the water level and the usual flow of water to Bangladesh is being maintained. The excess water has been diverted to the feeder canal," said Singhla.

She said the process of replacing the gate was on and it will take a few days before it was completed.

The barrage on the Ganges is nearly 17 km from the Indo-Bangladesh border.