Deep depression wreaks havoc in two Midnapore districts, claims seven lives

Deep depression wreaks havoc in two Midnapore districts, claims seven lives

Biswabrata Goswami

MIDNAPORE, 16 SEP: The deep depression that wreaked havoc in both East Midnapore and West Midnapore for the past two days has crossed the state but not before claiming at least seven human lives, affecting over 2 lakh people and causing destruction.

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The depression caused rain in all the blocks of the two districts. In the two days since Monday after the depression over the Bay of Bengal crossed Odisha coast near Bhadrak, the two districts received an average 155.9 mm rainfall triggering floods in urban and rural areas, an official said.

As per the reports from Vidyasagar University, the precipitation was 243.33 mm on 15 September which was just 12 mm less to create a new record. Other blocks in West Midnapore and East Midnapore got rainfall in the range of 200 mm to 300 mm, an agriculture department official said.

As per the preliminary reports from the district administrations, the calamity has affected over 2 lakh people in 1200 villages and 9 urban local bodies spread over the two districts. As many as 70,000 people staying in low laying areas were evacuated and kept in shelters for safety.

Rashmi Kamal, district magistrate of West Midnapore said, “The calamity has destroyed crops and vegetables. Till last night 30000 people were in 700 shelter camps across the district. Several embankments of Keleghai and Kapaleswari rivers were breached. Several gram panchayats have been inundated due to heavy showers. Seven persons were killed due to calamity in the district so far. We are collecting data from block levels to ascertain the total damages in the district.”

With the water levels of almost all rivers rising due to the heavy rain that pounded the twin districts for the last 36 hours, the state government has asked the district magistrates to evacuate people from low-lying areas.

In West Midnapore’s Keshiari and Kharagpur, five people died as their homes collapsed on Tuesday night. The deceased were identified on Wednesday as Arun Shant, Bijli Patar, Kohinoor Bibi, Rakhal Hembram and Ahallya Sai.

In East Midnapore’s Ramnagar, Class VI student Madhumita Sahoo was purportedly bitten by a snake in her flooded home on Tuesday night. She died on Wednesday morning at a Contai hospital.

“Some 5,000 homes in West Midnapore and 700 homes in East Midnapore have been irreparably damaged in the downpour,” said an official.

In East Midnapore, district magistrate Purnendu Majhi said the rain had exacerbated lingering damage from Cyclone Yaas in certain areas.

Heavy rains also inundated several parts of Midnapore town, in addition to fields and settlements in and around Chandrakona, Daspur and Ghatal. 

The railway line near Godapiyashal village in West Midnapore’s Salboni submerged and partially disintegrated.

The Salboni-Adra line was closed as a result. A car near the area was submerged in an overflowing pond. Bystanders rescued the driver.

On Wednesday morning, locals reported a tornado in Narayangarh and Keshiary. District magistrate Rasmi Kamal informed that a tornedo was seen in two locations in the district, but the damages were minimal.

Tags: #DeepDepression #WestMidnapore #EastMidnapore #floodlikesituation

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