Ranchi, September 1: Continuous heavy rainfall over the past five days has severely disrupted life in several districts of Jharkhand. Rivers are overflowing, bridges are collapsing, and many major roads are submerged. Flood-like conditions have been reported in Sahibganj, Latehar, Garhwa, Palamu, Saraikela-Kharsawan, and East Singhbhum.
The Ranchi Meteorological Center issued a yellow alert on September 1 for Garhwa, Palamu, Chatra, Latehar, Lohardaga, Gumla, Ranchi, Khunti, Simdega, and West Singhbhum districts. Heavy rainfall is expected in these areas. In Sahibganj, the water level of the Ganges is currently at 27.71 meters, which is 0.46 meters above the danger mark of 27.25 meters. However, a slight decrease in water levels has been recorded over the past 24 hours. Despite this, the situation remains critical in the low-lying areas.
Floodwaters have spread across several villages, including Ramnagar, Chanan, and Sarapna. Hundreds of homes in Mokimpur and Baloo Tola in Rajmahal have been inundated. Residents are using boats to reach safer locations. In Udhwa, flooding has submerged hundreds of acres of crops, and the lower catchment areas of Udhwa Bird Sanctuary are also experiencing waterlogging. The administration has intensified relief and rescue operations in the affected areas.
Under directives from district commissioners, relief camps have been established in government schools. Animal relief camps have also been set up along embankments. Affected individuals are receiving dry rations, tarpaulins, and medicines. A 55-year-old bridge over the Rajdanda River on the Mahuadand-Medininagar main road in Latehar collapsed due to the strong current. This bridge failure has halted traffic on routes connecting Mahuadand, Garu, Latehar, and Palamu, affecting around 10,000 residents.
In Garhwa district’s Ranka block, a bridge over the Tukwa River was also swept away by the floodwaters, severing connections between Charak Pathli, Tikar Choiya, and Siroikala villages and the block headquarters. In Musabani, East Singhbhum, the Shank River is swelling due to water being released from the Rairangpur Dam in Odisha, with approximately six feet of water flowing over the Bakra Bridge. Roads and bridges in Palamu have also suffered damage. A newly constructed bridge in Tigra, Ranchi, costing around 2.75 crore rupees, has been damaged as well.
In Saraikela, the Kharkai River is flowing 2.03 meters above the danger mark. Consequently, the gates of the Bankabal and Kharkai dams have been opened. A high alert has been issued in the flood-prone areas of Adityapur and Mango in Jamshedpur due to rising water levels in the Swarnrekha and Kharkai rivers. In Latehar’s Chhipadohar, the Satanadi Nala is in spate, affecting the Garu-Betla-Palamu route at seven locations. Water is flowing over the roads in several areas, halting vehicle movement. The Lodh Fall and Sugga Dam in Latehar are also in spate, leading to a ban on tourist entry for safety reasons.
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SN/PM
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