Flood like situation in steel city, Zoo crocodiles missing

Jamshedpur, Jun 18 (UNI) A flood like situation, triggered by heavy rains for more than 48 hours, today inundated many low lying areas and Zoological park in this steel city and neighbourhoods.

Official sources said the two rivers -Kharkai and Suvanrekha- were flowing above danger marks on many places after the channel gates on Kharkhai dam in Mayurbhanj district of Orissa were opened to ease flood situation there, have threatened this industrial city of Jharkhand.

Overflowing waters from the Kharkai bridge have inundated more than 500 houses in low lying areas of Jugasalai, Bagbeda, Shastirnagar, Sonari and Adarshnagar. Road links between Jamshedpur and Adityapur industrial area were cut off becasue of surging waters of the river.

A rail track near the Tatanagar railway sation was partially damaged and an underconstruction diversion bridge at Duguni in neighbouring West Singhboom district washed off.

Rail traffic on Tata-Howrah main line has affected adversly. Road traffic was also hit by the suring rivers at Jaggannathpur-Noamundi and some other roads.

More than 250 mm of rainfall was recorded during last 48 hours.

Suvarnrekha had also flooded the Zoo in the city.

The zoo administration was conducting a search operation for its two captive crocodiles and as many aligators that have been carried away to open areas by the flood water. Four leopards were rescued as they had been threatened by the pounding rains. One leopard was given tranquiliser.

Local MET predicting more rainfall, the adminstraion was taking measure to tackle the situation.

Official sources said that divers and life saving boats were deployed in the flood hit areas.

No casuality due to rain has been reported so far.

UNI RAJ PC KLC1734