By Avijit Biswas
Bhagalpur: The Ismailpur -Bindtoli protective embankment over Ganga in Gopalpur block of Naugachia sub-division in this district was breached by flooded river this morning. As per information due to increased water pressure of river more than hundred feet breach was caused between spur No. seven and eight of approximately ten-kilometer-long embankment.
Quite a vast area of the subdivision has been exposed to serious flood threat due to the breach. As per locals, flood water of the river has started entering number of villages beside Gopalpur block headquarter. People of the area in many cases apprehend that flood water of the river could spread in vast area of the subdivision by tomorrow unless breach in the embankment is plugged successfully.
With many people residing on the embankment, reaching construction materials on site of breach for undertaking repair work is posing serious problem for local administration.
DM Nawal Kishore Chowdhury who along with Vivekanand, DIG, Bhagalpur range and SP Naugachia Puran Jha visited the area to take stock of the situation, was quoted saying evacuation of people residing on the embankment would be essential for reaching construction material at site of the breach.
He informed efforts are underway to evacuate people residing on the embankment beside preparations have been also made for evacuating people from other areas if such need arises.
Efforts are underway by SDRF team for evacuating marooned people from Budduchak, one of the worst effected villages. For effected people two reliefs camps have been started respectively at Mahipal High School, Tintanga village and Jagdamba Girls Middle School at Gopalpur.
Following breach in the embankment people of the area have started questioning about effectivity of works being undertaken at a huge expenditure by government every year under flood fighting measures for repair and strengthening of the embankment.
Bipin Kumar Mandal, Zila Parishad member from Ismailpur was quoted saying it is unfortunate the embankment breached despite the fact for strengthening the embankment work is in progress since last few years.
The water level of flooded Ganga meanwhile has started receding since yesterday. The river is flowing below danger mark here at present. However as per information the central water commission has alerted about possibility of sharp rise of water level of river between Sultanganj and Kahalgaon in next two days.
It is stated rivers in north western states have swelled due to heavy rainfall. The swollen rivers of north western states have been contributing in rise of water level of Ganga. The river is likely to register increase of water level in downstream at almost all places in state in next few days, as per forecast.
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- Writer Avijit Biswas, former principal correspondent of Hindustan Times Bhagalpur bureau, can be contacted at biswasavijit@yahoo.comContact number (mobile): +919431095516
