Kolkata: Incessant rains lashing West Bengal
caused large-scale inundation and affected train service with
the weatherman forecasting heavy showers in gangetic areas.
Chief secretary Samar Ghosh said district magistrates in
south Bengal had been put on alert in view of the rain
forecast in areas which experienced excess rainfall.
He said widespread water-logging was reported in Hooghly,
West Midnapore and South 24 Parganas districts and the
authorities had been asked to keep watch on the condition
of the embankments as most of them were old.
Instructions had been issued to repair embankments on an
emergency basis as more rainfall might cause breach in
embankments and lead to flooding, he said.
The authorities in Howrah and Hooghly districts had been
alerted against inundation in low-lying areas as Damodar
Valley Corporation released 44,000 cusecs during the day, he
said.
A control room was set-up at the state secretariat
Writers` Buildings and another at the irrigation department
headquarters to keep watch on the situation.
In the city the low-lying areas were waterlogged with
rains lashing it since Saturday night.
Regional meteorological centre said more rains are likely
in the next 24 hours due to active monsoon.
"The monsoon trough which is now placed over Digha in
East Midnapore has strengthened further and the entire state,
including Kolkata and its adjacent areas, are expected to
experience heavy to very rainfall in the next 24 hours," a met
department official said.
"At present the situation is such that there is no
possibility of weakening of the trough. Unless the monsoon
trough weakens, intermittent thunder showers will continue,"
he said.
Train services were disrupted in Eastern Railways` Howrah
division as the car-shed was waterlogged. Major roads of the
city were clogged due to heavy rainfall affecting office
goers, daily commuters and students.
The met office recorded a rainfall of 140 mm in Kolkata
and 160 mm in the northern part of the city, Met officials
said.
Two persons were killed and eight injured in rain-related
incidents in the city and adjoining Titagarh in North 24
Parganas district yesterday.
PTI
