Cyclone turns into depression as it reaches Kolhan, rains to continue on Friday
Jamshedpur, Chaibasa, Seraikela, May 27: The cyclonic storm Yaas which turned into a depression while entering Jharkhand through Kolhan region on Wednesday late night with the centre being at Rajnagar in Seraikela-Kharsawan led to evacuation of over 14,000 and several low lying areas on river banks facing inundation.
Due to the impact of the depression there was rains across all the three districts of East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Seraikela Kharsawan and as per Ranchi Met office forecast rain will continue even on Friday and cloudy conditions will persist on Saturday too.
There will be lowering of temperature for a few days but after June 1 there will be steady increase in the maximum temperatures.
The East Singhbhum district administration taking heed to the Met office forecast had announced complete lockdown in East Singhbhum on May 27 too with the relaxation between 11 am and 2pm for purchasing milk. Barring medicine shops all other shops were closed in East Singhbhum district which caused problem for the masses especially in purchasing of edible items and vegetables.
Several thatched houses in the rural parts of Ghatshila sub-division especially in Ghurabanda, Dumuria and Potka block in East Singhbhum have been partially damaged however there has been no casualty as most of the vulnerable villages had been evacuated by the district administration on Tuesday itself.
“Over 10,000 persons from vulnerable pockets had been evacuated. We have also evacuated residents of low lying areas in Jamshedpur especially in Bagbera, Shastrinagar, Jugsalai and Mango as the Kharkai river was flowing over danger level and water inundation had taken place in few areas situated close to the river banks. We have also deployed NDRF teams for rescue and evacuation work in areas submerged due to water inundation,” said East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Suraj Kumar.
Kharkai River was flowing at 132.87 meter higher than the danger level of 129 meter. Subernarekha level was at 119.20 meter while the danger mark is 121.5 meter.
This apart Subernarekha River had also swelled leading to threat of water inundation in Mango and Bhuiyandih areas. Both Kharkai and Subernarekha level had started increasing from yesterday onward due to the opening of dam gates of Bankabal and Silaipath in Mayurbhanj district of Odisha.
Water from Kharkai river had entered into nearly 200 houses in Naya Basti area of Bagbera.
East Singhbhum deputy commissioner and SSP M Tamilvanan visited the vulnerable areas to take stock of the preparation at shelter points for the impacted residents.
Vegetable growers in Patamda Bodam area face hardship and threat of livelihood as water has entered their vegetable growing fields and there are apprehension of vegetables getting spoiled due to the rain water.
There were reports of an underconstruction diversion culvert being washed away due to heavy rains along Sonua-Gudri Main Road in West Singhbhum district on Wednesday late night. Water levels of Sanjay river and Kharkai in Seraikela Kharsawan and Roro River and Karo river in West Singhbhum were also in spate. However both the district administration had evacuated people residing in low lying areas to safer shelter points.
“There has been no casualty and water level have started receding since Thursday noon. We have evacuated close to 3000 persons. Uprooted trees along important roads have been removed,” said West Singhbhum deputy commissioner Ananya Mittal.
In West Singhbhum district areas in Barajamda were also submerged due to flash flood like situation owing to heavy rains for the last two days and increase in level of Karo river.
In Chaibasa district administration had arranged a generator for electric supply at Sadar Hospital as power was disconnected due to threat of heavy rains since Wednesday. Several outfits were seen distributing relief materials among affected residents of low lying areas residing in shelter points.
In Seraikela the Rajnagar block was cut-off from district administration head quarter as the Titerbila bridge was submerged at Sekharkai. River water was flowing seven feet over the Govindpur bridge connecting Seraikela with Kharsawan.
SDO Seraikela and senior administratrive officials visited the bridges submerged or affected by heavy rains and reviewed preparation made for evacuating people in case of emergency. Barricades have been put on both ends of the submerged bridges to prevent any persons trying to cross it facing threat of life.
