The city heaved a sigh of relief as rain water in the low-lying areas started receding. The city did not receive rain on Wednesday that brought ray of hope for the people. Baghbera New Colony, Nirmal Nagar, Shastrinagar and Jugsalai are much affected by the rain. Kharkai still flowed at danger mark at 129.740 (danger mark 129 m) while Subernarekha river flowed at 119.600 m (danger mark 122 m).
A section of residents in low-lying areas of Bagbera facing pangs of abysmal civic planning after their localities lied submerged in drain waters and a swelling Kharkai river for two days had another suffering due to poor planning of the district administration.
Several affected families are taking shelter in the relief camps of the district administration as their houses have been inundated with the river water in several low lying areas. According to information nearly 10,000 families, largely slum dwellers of Kharkhai and Subernarekha catchment areas, have been affected. Baghbera New Colony, Nirmal Nagar, Shastrinagar and Jugsalai are much affected by the rains.
Meanwhile, nearly 70 residents (including 38 women) of Naya Basti who took shelter at Bazar Tola Prathmik Vidyalaya had to face embarrassing moments last night and today morning as the relief center—a state owned primary school—did not have the basic facility of a toilet at its campus.
Incidentally, the State HRD had directed all schools to have toilets by July this year in view of the directive from the Union HRD ministry to state government to ensure that schools have toilets in view of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Independence Day speech that all schools will have toilets within a year Headmistress of the school, Sindhu Mahato, admitted that students faced problem due to lack of toilets facility.
SDO Dhalbhum Alok Kumar admitted of the faux pass in selection of the relief center without toilets facility for victims of flash flood in Bagbera. “We will ensure that all such things are taken into account while identifying relief centers in future " he noted.
District civil surgeon S K Jha said that they are worried as two of the worst affected areas in the recent viral epidemic. Bagbera and Mango localities had large areas inundated by the flash flood like situation. With Steel City’s weather at its unpredictable best, there has been a rise in cases of water-borne diseases in the city.
“Apart from routine drive of spraying larvicidal and bleaching powder in places affected by viral outbreaks and submerged by water we have planned a massive sensitisation campaign on public amplifier and distribution of pamphlets about preventive steps against vector and also against hygienic steps like drinking boiled water, avoiding open foods, eating only after washing hands in the affected areas to prevent spread of diarrhea,” he said.