31 villages submerged, 22,000 affected in WB's Malda district

Over 31 villages were submerged in the flood waters of Fullara river affecting a population of twenty-two thousand in Malda district, official sources said.

Besides this, the swollen Ganga breached a 2-km stretch of an embankment at Birnagar near Farakka Barrage leading to repair work on war footing.

Harishchandrapur block 2, Ratua block 1 and Kaliachak block 1 were the most hit by floods and erosion, ADM, Land Reforms, Malda, Kanchan Chowdhury told a press conference.

At least 1000 families were affected by erosion of the Ganga in Kaliachak 3 block, he said. Three flood shelters have been opened and food items are being distributed to the affected people.

North Bengal Development minister Rabindranath Ghosh will be visiting the flooded areas today alongwith Ditrict Magistrate Sarat Dwivedi.

Chowdhury said round-the-clock work is on to repair the breached embankment and protect he Farakka Barrage.

Sarkartola, Meinatola and Chinabazar were the most hit by the swollen Ganga and 100 families were shifted to safer places, he said.