Jamshedpur, Sep 22: Threat of flood is looming large in the city and low-lying areas of adjoining localities, as the water level is inching the danger level. Rains coupled with release of water from the dam led to swelling of Subarnarekha river and its tributary Kharkhai.
River Subarnarekha (at the Mango bridge) flowed at 117. 840 metres while the danger mark is 121.50 metres, Kharkai ( at the Adityapur bridge) was flowing at 312.60 metres the danger mark is 313.50 metres. The administration has announced an alert to people residing in low lying areas.
Rains that hit the city in the last 48 hours have provoked the district administration of East Singhbhum to take elaborate measures for better flood management this year. Drawing lessons from the past, the administration is acting strong this time to discuss preventive measures before the monsoon rain becomes havoc in the Steel City.
“The weather condition is likely to remain largely the same at least for the next couple of hours and rains will continue,” said officials at the Patna met office. The Seraikela administration has put the authorities on alert and asked them to arrange rescue boats, life jackets, dragon lights, tarpaulin sheets, among other safety equipment, before time.
The administration has asked special officers of local urban bodies — Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Notified Area Committee and Jugsalai Municipality — and the circle officer of Jamshedpur to co-ordinate among themselves on a 24-hour basis for emergency evacuations and flash flood management in identified vulnerable areas. The district has been hit by flash floods twice in 2011, and once each in 2008 and 2009.
Water also entered low lying areas like the Basti area of Baghbera as local administration sounded alert to other households in the Basti and Baroda Ghat areas of Bagbera to be prepared for evacuation any moment.
According to information, areas like Mango, Jugsalai, Baghbera, Parsudih have been hit. Water clogging in these areas has made it difficult for people to move.
Administration is also making arrangements for distribution of grams and jaggery amongst those affected after relocating them to other areas. Local civic bodies have been asked to start spraying bleaching powders at shelter areas by today evening.
In the wake of incessant rains, for the last two days, flooding the low lying areas and water level experiencing a gradual increase in the two rivers the authorities have jumped into action. The rain water had entered into the households of several localities situated in low-lying areas in the city. The areas where the residents experienced difficulties due to rain water include Adarsh Nagar in Sonari, Sankosai and Jawaharnagar in Mango. By 8 am, the accumulated rain water had decapitated from all these places.
