Threat of flood is looming large in the city and low-lying areas of adjoining localities, as the water level is inching the danger level. Rains coupled with release of water from the Bankabal dam in Mayurbhanj district led to swelling of Subernarekha River and its tributary Kharkhai on Monday morning.
According to information, Kharkhai is flowing at 130.80 meters in Adityapur (danger mark 139 meter) Subernarekha was flowing at 120.46 meters (danger mark 122 meters). With rains continuing in the region and sluice gate yet to be closed there is imminent danger of flash flood in low- lying areas.
Rains that hit the city from last 48 hours have provoked the district administration of East Singhbhum to take elaborate measures for better flood management this year. Drawing lessons from 2008 floods, the administration is acting strong this time to discuss preventive measures before the monsoon rain become havoc in the Steel City.
East Singhbhum additional deputy commissioner, Ganesh Kumar said that one sluice gate of Bankabal dam was opened in the morning due to heavy rains in Odisha. “As per the information received from flood control cell of Subernarekha Multipurpose Project (SMP), the sluice gate of Bankabal was discharging water at 78.45 cubic metre per second, resulting in an increase of Kharkhai river water. However, there is no discharge from Chandil dam,” said Ganesh Kumar.
The water level at the Chandil dam is at 159.5 meter and the radial gates of the dam will be opened only after the dam water level reaches 181 meter. “We are working on a strategy to coordinate in such a way that the there is no negative impact of rains in the city. We would examine the city’s needs for drainage, construction of embankments and any other measure required to handle floods,” said, Kumar.
“The weather condition is likely to remain largely the same at least for next couple of hours and rains will continue,” said officials at the Patna met office. The Seraikela administration has put the authorities on alert and asked them to arrange rescue boats, life jackets, dragon lights, tarpaulin sheets, among other safety equipments, before time.
The administration has asked special officers of local urban bodies–Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Notified Area Committee and Jugsalai Municipality–and the circle officer of Jamshedpur to co-ordinate among themselves on a 24-hour basis for emergency evacuations and flash flood management in identified vulnerable areas. The district has been hit by flash floods twice in 2011, and once each in 2008 and 2009.