Ganga crosses extreme danger level in West Bengal

Malda (WB), Aug 21 (PTI) The rising water level of theGanga has crossed the extreme danger level in Malda districtof West Bengal submerging vast areas in several villagesaffecting a population of nearly 20,000, a district officialsaid today. Additional District Magistrate, Malda, Kanchan Chowdhurysaid the rise in the water level of the river was due to therelease of 10 lakh cusecs of water from the Sone dam in UttarPradesh. The badly affected areas are Kalichak Block number 3,Pardewanapur-Shobhapur gram panchayat and Birnagar grampanchayat, the ADM said. The two gram panchayats have already been affected due toland erosion. Half of the area in Paranupnagar village hasalready been eroded, Chowdhury said, adding that roads hadalso been affected in the district due to the flooding. In Manikchak block, 10 villages have also been affected,the ADM said. Control rooms have been opened at the gram panchayat,block and district levels and villagers have been alerted lastnight. The district administration was keeping constant vigiland arrangements are being made to distribute tarpaulin anddry food among the affected. Flood centres will also beopened, Chowdhury added. The state Irrigation department has alerted the districtadministration to take all necessary steps to meet thesituation. PTI CORR CRIKA