Flood Situation in WB Worsens as DVC Releases Over 3 Lakh Cusecs of Water

GG News Bureau
Kolkata, 17th Sept. The flood-like situation in several districts of West Bengal is expected to worsen as the Damodar Valley Corporation (DVC) has released over 3 lakh cusecs of water from its Panchet and Maithon dams within a span of seven hours, according to officials. The water release, which began at 11:30 PM on Monday and continued until 6:54 AM on Tuesday, has raised concerns of severe flooding across multiple districts downstream.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee warned on Monday night that at least seven districts could face a flood-like situation following the release of water from dams located in neighboring Jharkhand. She accused the DVC of discharging water without notifying the state government.

Addressing the media, Banerjee expressed her concern, stating, “I have called the Jharkhand CM three times, urging him to regulate the release of water.” She highlighted that districts like Birbhum, Bankura, Howrah, Hooghly, Purba Bardhaman, and parts of North and South 24 Parganas were already dealing with flooding caused by heavy rainfall over the past two days.

DVC officials confirmed that 90,000 cusecs of water were initially released on Monday night, followed by an additional 2.1 lakh cusecs early Tuesday morning as upstream water levels remained high.

Inundation of several low-lying areas in southern West Bengal has been reported, with the Silabati River flowing above the danger level in Paschim Medinipur district. Rescue operations have been initiated in Hooghly, where rising water levels have left some residents stranded.

TMC MP and actor Deepak Adhikari conducted a survey of the affected Ghatal and Keshpur areas in Paschim Medinipur. Local authorities, including Ghatal Sub-Divisional Officer Suman Biswas, have prepared relief materials and set up a camp in case of emergencies. Farmers in the Chandrakona block are bracing for potential crop losses, particularly in paddy and jute fields.

The heavy rainfall, caused by a deep depression, has now shifted towards Jharkhand, bringing further rainfall to the neighboring state, while West Bengal remains on high alert.