More than 1,000 houses in the low-lying areas of city have got submerged in 24 hours following heavy rain in the area. The water-level in the twin rivers, Kharkai and Swarnrekha, has also risen and both have crossed danger mark, raising the threat of strong flood. Along with heavy rain, the release of water from the dams has also led to this situation. Several people living in low-lying places of Jamshedpur and its adjoining areas in East Singhbhum have been affected with the rise in water level of Kharkai and Swarnrekha.
Houses were submerged in Basti area of Baghbera as local administration sounded alert to other households in the Basti and Baroda Ghat areas of Bagbera to evacuate. Several houses were submerged in low-lying areas of Mango. According to information, areas like Mango, Jugsalai, Baghbera, Parsudih have been hit. Water clogging in these areas has made movement difficult for people. According to information, nearly 10,000 residents in low-lying areas of Bagbera and Jugsalai in southern parts of the city on the bank of Kharkai river were affected.
The flood control sluice gates near Shiv Ghat in Jugsalai which were closed after Kharkai river started flowing over danger mark last evening coupled with heavy rains since last evening till this morning (around 140 mm of rainfall) led to drain water from Tezaab Nullah (originating near Tata Pigments gate in Jugsalai) and BNR Nullah (originating from Tatanagar Station) submerging nearly 900 houses in Bagbera and around 50 houses in Jugsalai low lying areas.
East Singhbhum additional deputy commissioner Sunil Kumar said that the two of the sluice gates were opened this morning after which the drain water started receding. The administration will hold talk with the Jugsalai municipality special officer soon to chalk out future plan to prevent recurrence of such situation.
Meanwhile, Jamshedpur circle officer Manoj Kumar and Jugsalai municipality special officer A Minz were directed by the Dhalbhum SDO Alok Kumar to sound flood alert in the affected area. Several residents were taken to identified shelter houses and public announcements were made through public amplifiers to relocate to relief centers. However, water has started receding after opening of sluice gates this morning.
Meanwhile, several apartments were submerged in Adarshnagar Fourth Phase in Sonari area, Patelnagar area of Bhuiyandih and also in Kalikanagar and Mango due to clogged drains and heavy rains.
Meanwhile, at 3 pm, Kharkai flowed at 130.38 m (danger mark 129 m) while Subernarekha flowed at 120.90 m (danger mark 122 m). Six radial gates of Chandil dam were opened leading to discharge of water at 913.15 cumecs.
local civic bodies have been asked to start spraying bleaching powders at shelter areas by today evening. The district has been hit by flash floods twice in 2011, and once each in 2008 and 2009.
“Weather condition will remain same, by and large, and incessant rains in moderate to heavy form will continue for the next two days,” said the local met office. The monsoon is back to life, here for the last one week, in the wake of cyclonic circulation over Gangetic Bengal and Bangladesh, said a met official.
In the wake of incessant rains, for the last two days, flooding the low lying areas and water level experiencing a gradual increase in the two rivers the authorities have jumped into action.