A fear of flash flood is looming large over the coastal district here which has been experiencing incessant rains almost in all parts since Monday. Most rivers of the district have also received heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas.
The district is likely to receive more rains due to a deep depression in the Bay of Bengal off 180 km in the south east direction.
The depression while would cross the coast by Wednesday night, more heavy rains in the plain areas are expected between Chandbali and Digha, said sources. The district administration after receiving an alert message from the meteorological department as well as from the office of the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) has been reviewing the preparedness of various departments to face an impending flood.
District Collector B Parameswaran reviewed the stock position of relief materials, dry foods, drinking water, health related items and appliances, besides availability of country and power boats and preparedness of the ODFRAF teams on Tuesday afternoon.
All the BDOs and tehsildars while have been communicated about the alert advisories, the north Baleswar has been put on high alert as the river Subarnarekha was swelling and likely to cross the danger level by Tuesday night.
Against the danger level (10.36 metres), the river was 10.0 metres near Rajghat at 3 pm. The level could touch 10.9 metres by 9 am on Wednesday.
The Jalka river was flowing above the danger level with 5.50 metres measured near Mathani on Tuesday. By 3 pm, it had recorded 6.17 metres. The other major river Budhabalanga, while was flowing below the warning level (7.21 metres) at 6.17 metres at 3 pm.
“I have been in touch with the SRC as well as all the departments. I have asked all the BDOs and tehsildars to remain vigilant and stay prepared to meet any kind of eventualities which are likely to occur in next 36 hours,” said Parameswaran.