Embankment washed away in Tufanganj 

COOCH BEHAR, June 29: Gadadhar river in Tufanganj washed away a section of an embankment at Dwarikamari village. The water of the river forced into villages like Dwarikamari, Pakritala, Banstala and Charaljani through the damaged part of the embankment. It turned about 63 families homeless.

The embankment of Gadadhar in Dwarikamari village started melting away since yesterday morning. About 60-metre stretch of the embankment got damaged till this afternoon. The overflowed river destroyed boro cultivation of paddy and jute in the affected villages. 63 families took shelter in the local Flood Rescue Centre last night but they left that place today.

Today, when the media persons visited the affected areas, the homeless persons like Haran Das, Bablu Das, Sridam Das and Nalin Das described their sad stories with tears rolling down their cheeks. Tapan Das, a local villager, said that he lost about 3.5-bigha cultivable land when the river water flowed through the damaged portion of the embankment. Others too said that they lost everything.

A senior Congress leader of Natabari, Mr Shailen Barma alleged that the embankment was never repaired since its construction in 1973. Local farmers were ready to offer land for renovation of the embankment but no one ever lent ears to their appeal. Mr Barma blamed the administration and the irrigation division for the damage caused to the farmers.

Tufanjanj SDO Mr Ajay Ghosh and senior officials visited the area yesterday and today. He feared that about 600-bigha cultivable land is now under the water. The distressed were sent to Flood Rescue Centre. On behalf of sub-divisional administration they conveyed the matter to the irrigation department, the SDO said.

On the otherhand, Cooch Behar Zilla Parishad sabhadhipati Mr Jnanendra Chandra Chanda asked for a detailed report over the incident. He asked the concerned gram panchayat and block administration to take adequate measures to help the homeless persons. Mr Chanda said that he would submit a report to the chief minister and the relief minister after receiving the report that he sought for. []

PHOTO : Villagers watch the water of Gadadhar river sitting on the damaged embankment. At Dwarikamari village in Tufanganj of Cooch Behar on Thursday afternoon.