pic for representation purpose only
Kolkata, Oct 2: The West Bengal Government on Monday said there is a high possibility of flood in seven districts of the state due to continued incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas of neighbouring Jharkhand.
There is a high possibility of flood in seven districts of the state – Paschim Bardhaman, Bankura, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, Paschim Medinipur, Hooghly and Howrah due to the continuing and predicted high rainfall in upper catchment areas in Jharkhand.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee directed an urgent virtual meeting to be convened with the concerned districts for immediate precautionary steps to be undertaken for flood protection and management.
Accordingly, a virtual meeting was chaired by the Chief Secretary with DMs, CPs/ SPs of the said districts.
The meeting was attended from Nabanna by Principal Secretary, Irrigation & Waterways Dept, Principal Secretary, Disaster Management Dept. and ADG ( Law & Order).
The Chief Secretary informed that India Meteorological Department has predicted rainfall to continue till October 5 with heavy rainfall predicted tomorrow.
The well-marked low pressure area is currently hovering over Jharkhand and is likely to continue there for some more time.
This will continue to cause high precipitation and will result into high inflow into the dams. Rainfall in Jharkhand was measured more than 50 mm in the upper catchment area on Sunday.
Inflow into Maithon Dam is currently 60,000 cusec and at Panchet Dam is 73,000 cusec.
The release from the dams downstream was made 1,00,000 cusec at 9am onwards on Monday.
However, considering the weather prediction and the decreasing cushion level of the dams to accommodate the continuing high inflow of water, the release may have to be increased in the coming hours in a calibrated manner.
The Irrigation and Waterways Department will be in touch with the DVC and Jharkhand authorities and keep a close watch over the situation.
The district administration and police authorities were instructed that low lying and flood prone areas be identified immediately, miking be done in those areas along with preparatory measures for evacuation of people to a safer location, if required, water-logging and embankment breaches be closely monitored and remedied as early as possible.
Executive Engineers from Irrigation and Waterways Department will keep close liaison with the district administration in this regard.
Adequate reserve of the relief material including other flood-fighting materials like sandbag etc. for embankment protection should be kept in stock in low lying vulnerable areas.
Appropriate lighting arrangement will be made for relief and rescue operation.
Districts will inform if any area receives unusually higher rainfall, as the water release would need to take into account the precipitation in the lower reaches also.
Integrated Command Centres will be kept operational in districts.
A 5-hourly report by the districts will be shared with Disaster Management 24×7 control room on rainfall, river water levels, embankment breaches and evacuation (if any).
