Child swept away, parts of Malda face flood fury

As the flood situation remained grim in parts of the district today, a child was swept away in swirling water, even as 29 villages were flooded by the swollen Ganga here.

A senior district official said the 2-year old was swept away in Kaliachak blok number three as vast areas of the block were submerged by water from Ganga, which was flowing at an extremely dangerous level in the area.

Several gram panchayat areas in the district including Manikchak, Birnagar, Krishnapur were partially under water. The flood water also gushed over the two roads, built under 'Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana' project disrupting vehicular communication, the official said.

The administration opened four relief camps in higher land to shelter the marooned, the official said, adding thousands were reeling under flood water in the area.

The official said boats were being pressed into service in the submerged areas to ferry the stranded and supply relief materials.

A high-level state irrigation team will visit the area, he added.