Heavy rains lash Kalaigaon area; farmers suffer badly

A CORRESPONDENT

KALAIGAON: Incessant rains have lashed the Kalaigaon area for the past 3-4 days. The areas badly affected by rain are Bhehguri, Rupatal, Balipara, Geruwa, Shagunbahi, Rajapukhuri, Majarchuba and Khairabari under Kalaigaon LAC.

Crops and vegetables have been damaged. Farmers have not been able to plough their paddy fields due to the heavy rainfall. Meanwhile, the River Noa under Kalaigaon Revenue Circle has overflowed due to incessant rains and several villages have been submerged. The flood-affected villages are Gerua, Habibhanga, No.2 Kalaigaon, Garubandha, Shingrimari, Govindapur, Adarshagaon and Udmari. Water has entered several houses and about 50 families have not been able to cook their meals for 2-3 days. Knee-deep water was also seen on the State highway, namely Mangaldai-Bhutiachang at Garubandha near Kalaigaon town.

Villagers said that they had demanded immediate repair of the damaged embankment of Noa River which had been ravaged by floods in 2018. But no authority took necessary steps for the repair of this embankment. People said that unless the damaged embankment was repaired soon, they might face a worse situation.

The embankment has given way under the mounting pressure of flood water and the riverside houses may be washed away by the river anytime. Maheswar Baro, MLA of Kalaigaon LAC, visited the areas and assured the people that he would try to solve the problem permanently. MLA Baro also asked the authority concerned to take immediate measures in the flood-affected areas.