Flood situation in Malda remains unchanged

Malda (WB), Aug 28: The flood situation in Malda district remained unchanged today with waters of the Ganga standing static at 48 cm above the extreme-danger level.

Additional District Magistrate Kanchan Chowdhury said over 5550 families of 45 villages of four blocks were affected as the Ganga is in spate. The river is flowing 48 cm above the extreme-danger level at Manikchak, he said.

With no reports of any fresh death, the toll remained at four. Of them, three were reported from Kaliachak III and one was from Manikchak block. During the day, District Magistrate Sharad Dwivedi visited Pardeonapur-Shovapur gram panchayat of the worst affected Kaliachak-III block, while the three other affected blocks are Manikchak, Kaliachak II and Ratua I.

Pardeonapur-Shovapur gram panchayat pradhan Maya Sarkar said all 18 villages of the GP with around 20,000 people have been affected.

The GP has been cut off from other parts of the block and boat is the only mode of transport, she said, adding 12 kuchcha houses were damaged in the flood. Five camps were set up in the GP where 608 families have been sheltered.

Meanwhile, BDO of Manikchak Utpal Mukherjee said 36 villages in the block were affected. An NDRF team and a Civil Defence team are engaged in rescue operation, he said, adding 12 boats have been pressed into service. Two medical teams were sent to the affected areas, Mukherjee said.

PTI