A looming threat of flash floods has gripped Jamshedpur as the water levels of both the Subernarekha and Kharkai rivers have risen sharply following 48 hours of incessant rainfall. Officials from the state water resources department confirmed that the Kharkai River has already breached the danger mark, while the Subarnarekha River is nearing it.
Deputy Commissioner of East Singhbhum, Ananya Mittal, issued a public appeal urging residents in low-lying areas to remain vigilant. *“People should stay away from the riverbanks and move to safer places as a precautionary measure,”* Mittal said. A mobile public address system has been deployed to alert residents of the increasing water levels and the potential for flooding.
Local MLA and state health minister, Banna Gupta, has also stepped in, instructing district authorities to monitor the situation closely. Gupta called on his party members to visit vulnerable areas and provide necessary assistance to affected residents. He urged officials to take swift action in areas most at risk of submersion.
Rivers reach danger mark
As of today, the Subarnarekha River is measured at 118.84 meters near Mango bridge, just below the danger level of 121.50 meters. Meanwhile, the Kharkai River at the Adityapur bridge site has slightly exceeded its danger level, with current readings at 129.07 meters.
Further concerns arose after Odisha opened two sluice gates of a dam on the Kharkai River, exacerbating the situation. An alarm has been sounded across the Singhbhum-Kolhan region, and authorities are urging residents to evacuate if necessary.
In response to the continuous rainfall, the radial gates at Dimna Lake were opened today to manage water levels. While the rain is a welcome sight for paddy farmers, agriculture scientists warned that maize and vegetable crops could face damage if the excess water isn’t drained quickly. *“Farmers must ensure that the crops are treated with proper doses of pesticides to prevent significant loss,”* said an agricultural expert.
The prevailing depression over Jharkhand has resulted in heavy to moderate rainfall across the region over the last 24 hours, with predictions indicating that the rains will continue today. However, meteorological forecasts suggest that weather conditions should improve by tomorrow, offering some relief to the region.
Jamshedpur receives 101 mm of rainfall in 24 hours
Jamshedpur: Heavy rains continued to wreak havoc across the city for the second consecutive day today, with many parts of the state recording substantial rainfall. Statistics revealed that Jamshedpur alone received 101 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, while other areas like Latehar and Chaibasa also reported significant downpours, measuring 106 mm and 67 mm, respectively. The persistent rainfall has led to severe waterlogging, particularly in low-lying areas, and has caused river water levels to rise dangerously.
In West Singhbhum's Chaibasa, 67 mm of rainfall was recorded, while Bokaro saw 60 mm. Daltonganj received 52 mm, and the state capital, Ranchi, recorded 40 mm. Overnight rains have been reported from most areas of the Kolhan region.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the prevailing deep depression over Gangetic West Bengal is the cause behind the torrential rains. As of today, the depression lay centred about 60 km west of Kolkata, 110 km southeast of Bankura, 170 km east of Jamshedpur, and 270 km east-southeast of Ranchi. Moving westward across Gangetic West Bengal, it is expected to bring more heavy rains to Jharkhand before gradually weakening into a depression within the next 24 hours.
