ACT member,
Lutheran World Service (LWS) India reports that torrential rains
since early morning of 17 September, have flooded most parts of the
districts of Birbhum, Burdwan, Murshidabad and Malda in West Bengal.
All the major rivers, the Dwaraka, Mayuraskhy, Ajoy, Brahamani and
the Bhaghirati as well as their tributaries are flowing well above
danger levels. Several dams and barrages in the region have also crossed
the danger levels and are releasing massive volumes of water.
More than half
of Birbhum district is submerged and around 600,000 people have been
evacuated to safer locations. Rail, road and telecommunication to
the rural areas of the district have been completely disrupted. Birbhum
is also an operational district for LWS India Integrated Rural Development
Project and some of the project offices have been flooded. In Murshidabad
district, all 26 blocks are affected, 10 of them severely, resulting
in several hundred thousand people moving to higher grounds. In Burdwan
district, one sub division is seriously affected and a number of areas
have been cut off from the district head quarters. Train services
through parts of the district have also been suspended. In Malda district,
the River Ganga is slowly rising and the low lying areas are beginning
to get flooded. At Kaliachak in Malda, the river has breached its
embankment and 6 villages are under water forcing thousands of families
to move to safer locations.
The low pressure
zone remains and according to weather forecasts, the rains are likely
to continue for another few days.
The District Authorities
have called in the Army and the Para-Military forces to conduct rescue
and relief operations but relief measures are yet to begin. LWS India
has also been requested by the authorities, to intervene with emergency
assistance.
LWS personnel
have begun rapid assessment visits to the affected areas in Birbhum,
Murshidabad and Malda and an ACT appeal may be forthcoming.
