Heavy rain lashes Jamshedpur

Jamshedpur, Sep 13: Threat of flash flood loomed large in low-lying areas of the city as depression-induced rains lashed the city on Tuesday afternoon.  With rains continuing in the region there is imminent danger of flash flood in low-lying areas.

The increase in the Kharkai river water had its immediate impact in the low-lying areas of Bagbera especially in densely populated Nayi Basti locality. The administration has directed special officers of local urban bodies — Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Notified Area Committee and Jugsalai Municipality — and the circle officer of Jamshedpur to be on alert mode.

 “The civic body officials have been asked to keep ready microphones in their areas and warn residents to evacuate from vulnerable areas if the water level continues to rise in the night. The district civil surgeon and the civic body officials have been asked to coordinate in the spraying of bleaching powder,” said an official.

 East Singhbhum has been hit by flash floods twice in 2011, and once each in 2008 and 2009. In 2013 there were four instances of water inundation of low-lying areas. This year too, the impact of heavy rain has been devastating.  

Meanwhile, the Met office informed that the depression which originated from the Bay of Bengal has moved further towards the north and this will result in reduced rainfall activity in Jharkhand.

However, an alert of heavy rain has been issued in isolated pockets of northern and central Jharkhand today due to the impact of the depression which has moved northwestward across Madhya Pradesh.

According to weathermen, the depression has weakened into low- pressure. It will further lose its strength in the next 24 hours. Rainfall statistics indicated that Jharkhand was facing a deficit of 25 per cent. Against normal rainfall of 899.6 mm, the state has so far received 676.2 mm. The weatherman said that the maximum readings in most parts of the state would be 2 to 3 notches below normal today.

In the wake of incessant rains, for the last six days, and with the flooding of low lying areas and water level experiencing a gradual increase in the two rivers, the authorities have jumped into action.

Meanwhile, several apartments were submerged in Adarshnagar Fourth Phase in Sonari area, Patelnagar area of Bhuiyandih and also in Kalikanagar and Mango due to clogged drains and heavy rains.

 “Weather condition will remain the same, by and large, and incessant rains in moderate to heavy form will continue for the next two days,” said the local met office. The monsoon is back to life, here for the last one week, in the wake of cyclonic circulation over Gangetic Bengal and Bangladesh, said a met official.