PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Aug 2: Two days of incessant rains have raised the spectre of floods in Jamshedpur and adjoining areas.
With more rain forecast over the next 24 hours, fear is palpable in the low-lying areas.
Concerned over the incessant rains in East Singhbhum district, Dhalbhum SDO Piyush Sinha issued necessary guidelines to the officials of the municipal bodies, Circle Officer, Station In-Charge, Tata Steel UISL (JUSCO) and Civil Defence representatives to step up measures for tackling the flash flood.
Along with identifying shelter homes, it was said to encourage people to be sent to shelter homes built in safe higher places when water enters the low-lying areas from rivers Subernarekha and Kharkai.
The officials have been also asked to be ready with an adequate number of life-saving jackets, boats and medical kits.
In the event of rising water levels in the rivers, continuous announcements should be done through the public address system, asking people to move to safer places.
The East Singhbhum district administration is keeping a close watch on the situation. It has set up a special flood cell to be headed by Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project executive engineer Umesh Kumar. The Chief Minister, too, has directed the disaster management department to take suitable steps to deal with the situation.
Weathermen said the deep depression over the Bay of Bengal was causing heavy rain.
IMD’s Ranchi Met Centre recorded over 60mm of rainfall at various places in and around the city during the past 24 hours.
More showers are predicted in the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, JUSCO said it was prepared for any situation. The Tata Steel subsidiary checked all its flood-related components, including the sluice gates of Dimna Lake.
Among the low-lying areas are Kalikanagar, Daiguttu, Haddi Godam, Gaur Bustee, Shastrinagar, Bhuiyandih, Kapali and Ghouse Nagar which have the threat of getting inundated in case of flash floods.
