Kharkhai, Swarnarekha rivers swell, flood alert sounded in most parts of Jharkhand

East Singhbhum district administration in Jharkhand on Monday sounded flood alert in view of the swelling Kharkhai and Swarnarekha rivers due to incessant rains for the past two days, officials said.

"Around a dozen houses in low-lying Naya Bustee in Bagbera have been inundated as water level in the Kharkhai river as well as Swarnarekha were flowing over danger level," Sub- Divisional Officer (Dalbhum) Prem Ranjan said.

Ranjan said, "People living in catchment areas have been alerted as the water level was likely to increase further in the night. All precautionary measures have been taken to meet any eventuality."

Meanwhile, president of the Bagbera Mahanagar Vikas Samity, a social organisation here, Subodh Jha, claimed that about 100 houses in Naya Bustee were submerged as river water gushed in the low-lying area.

He said several families have been evacuated to safer places in pucca building and school buildings.