Rail service disrupted, people left homeless due to flood

Midnapore, July 5 (UNI) Railway tracks at Gidhni were totally submerged and more than 50,000 people rendered homeless when rain washed away their homes in both West and East Midnapore today.

Incessant rainfall, cyclonic storms and relentless floods have wreaked havoc in parts of East and West Midnaopre, said Bhabani Prashad Barat, West Midnapore District Magistrate, here.

''The tiny Dulung river coming down from the plateau of Dalma Hills became aggressive, submerging both the tracks on the Tata-Kharagpur railway line early this morning near Gidhni Railway station, said Divisional Railway Manager, Kharagpur division, Ranjan Tewari.

Train services were suspended since morning and railway workers were busy resetting the line, the DRM said.

Meanwhile, all Mumbai-bound trains have been directed through the Asansol line, he added.

''With all major rivers in both east and west district rising, the condition of the districts - Jamboni, Binpur, Ghatal, Dantan and Sabang is becoming worse. About 25,000 people had been rescued from Jamboni and given shelter in 15 different schools and colleges,'' Mr Barat said.

More than 100 people were still marooned near Kanakdurga Temple in Jamboni as the district administration is continuing effort to rescue them.

Speed boats have been deployed near Makrampur in Narayangarh rescuing more than 1,500 people.

The worst-affected areas of East Midnapur district were Nandigram and Moyna because of the rising Haldi river, said East Midnapur District Magistrate Anup Agarwal.

Niranjan Sihi, Sabhadhipati, East Midnapur District, alleged that the Executive Engineers of Irrigation at Contai have been withdrawn from Contai in spite of repeated requests by him to the State Irrigation Minister Subhas Naskar not to do so.

Meanwhile, tourists were fleeing from Digha becuase of the rising tide and stormy weather, said Mr Sihi.

Fishermen have been warned against going into the sea due to the rising tide.

Meanwhile, a political bandh had been called by the Maoist Party in the West Midnapore District, which, however, did half as much damage in stagnating life as the weather did today.

UNI