The deluge over the last 24 hours may throw the state in darkness, literally.
Six units of Kolaghat thermal power station have become inoperational, as the power station has been inundated with water. This could lead to 1,000 MW shortage in power supply.
“Rainfall has affected the functioning of the plant,” said Power Minister Mrinal Banerjee. Officials of the West Bengal Power
Development Corporation Limited said it will lead to a severe shortfall in supply.
Fire department personnel have been called in to drain off the water. But the task is becoming difficult with the onset of high tide in the Rupanarayan river, flowing close to the power plant.
Rivers have touched the danger level between Narayangarh-Bakhrabad and Bakhrabad-Contai Road in Kharagpur- Bhadrak section in Howrah division.
* Drainage project worsens drains
The slum dwellers of Kolkata, who find their homes flooded after last night’s deluge, have little idea that the Rs 500 crore spent to improve drainage of their areas has further made their lives tougher.
Roads dug up under the Rs 500-crore Kolkata Environment Improvement Project (KEIP), have not been repaired so far. The streets are dotted with huge craters and deep potholes, and quite obviously are thoroughly inundated.
As the slum-dwellers trudge through the knee-deep water — leaving their belongings floating inside their one-room shelter — the met department’s prediction of heavy rainfall for another 48 hours scare them further.
“Our house is already submerged and my wife had to keep the stove on the bed to cook. Though it is dangerous, we have no option. We have no water to drink as the only tap has been submerged. I’m unable to move out of my house or earn a living,” said Ajit Kumar De, a slum-dweller at Behala’s Biren Roy Road.
“We don’t know how we will survive this monsoon. Rains have just begun and teh drains are already overflowing. Dirty water has flooded our homes. Snakes and insects also creep in sometimes,” said Sandhya Mallik, a slum-dweller in Kidderpore. Some of the slum-dwellers have left their homes and taken shelter in Barisha High School for Girls.
* City struggles under water
The city has recorded 114.4 mm rainfall in a span of 24 hours, causing major disruptions in rail services on Howrah and Sealdah divisions. Thousands of commuters were stranded at several stations and bus terminals. The waterlogged roads wore a deserted look.
A number of long-distance trains had to be cancelled or terminated midway. A press bulletin by the South Eastern Railways stated: “Heavy rainfall has badly affected trains between Howrah-Kharagpur, Kharagpur-Tatanagar and Kharagpur-Bhadrak sections. All Up trains leaving Howrah on Tuesday are likely to be delayed indefinitely and the situation may continue on June 18.”
Heavy waterlogging has made movements of residents impossible in the city. In Sealpara and Sakher Bazar areas, it’s impossible to distinguish ponds from roads as both are flowing at par.
Civic officials, however, claim that hardly any area of the city has remained waterlogged for long this year, as they have drained out water in time.
Flash flood in West Midnapore districts
A flash flood at the Keleghai river in West Midnapore has submerged several parts of the district, Home Secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti said.
“We have asked the civil defence department to gear up for the flood situation. Kalaikunda airbase has also been asked to be prepared for emergency services like air dropping of food,” said Chakrabarti.
Inundated roads
* Amherst Street
* Bidhan Sarani
* MM Burman Road
* College Street
* Mahatma Gandhi Road
* Jawarharlal Nehru Road
* Park Street
* Freeschool Street
* Camac Street
* Diamond Harbour Road
* New Alipore Road
* National Library Road
* Rammohan Roy Road
* B B Sengupta Road