Rain, river fury hit Howrah, Bankura

Howrah/Bankura/Behrampore: Heavy rainfall for 72 hours has caused inundation and severe damage to river embankments in Howrah, Bankura and Murshidabad.
In Bankura alone, around 15 villages — including Jambani and Aralbanshi — are now marooned, as a temporary bridge over river Darakeshwar at Minapur went underwater following torrential rain on Saturday morning.
Hundreds of villagers have been forced to move 5km away from the area.“The bridge was constructed in 2011. The morning downpour snapped our lifeline,” said local resident Haradhan Garai.
The Bankura district administration has warned people against the rising water level of Gandheswari as well. District magistrate S Arun Prasad said: “The situation is being closely monitored.”
Erosion of embankments at Kulidiar Char in Farakka and Dhanghora at Samserganj in Murshidabad has set off alarm bells too. The state irrigation department has begun repairs at Dhanghora, from where 300 families were shifted because their homes were flooded.
In Howrah, the rising waters of the Rupnarayan and Mundeswari rivers have submerged 700 acres of land in Bhatora and Ghoraberia-Chi-ntan gram panchayat. These areas are on an island, which is home to 60,000-odd people. Embankments lie eroded.
Local panchayat functionaries Ashok Gayen and Palash Majhi said vast swathes of agricultural land in these areas are underwater.