Shashank Shekhar
Bokaro ( Jharkhand) : With more than 25 mm rainfall in last 24 hours which continued till July 26, 2017, Bokaro district administration is still keeping a close watch on all low lying areas of Bokaro, Chas and Bermo sub- division as Tenughat Dam has opened its eight sluice gates while 4 sluice gates of Konar Dam have also been opened releasing more than 32.2 thousand cusec water per second as the water level of Tenughat and Konar dam has crossed danger level.
The district administration officials are using public address system including loud speakers asking residents living in Jaridih Bazar, Bermo station Khatal, Kalyani, Khas Dhori, Tuiorya Dhori, SRU colony, Bhandaridah, Gandhinagar Rajabera, all under Bermo sub- division, besides Chas low lying areas near river Damodar river to ask people to shift to safer places. Thousands of people living in these areas have shifted to safer spots while equal number of people are in the process of shifting. The water level in all dams besides rivers Damodar and Garga is increasing.
Executive Engineer (EE), Tenughat Dam, A K Jha stated that release of water depends on rainfall and rise in water level in dam but as heavy water is at present being released from dam for which 8 sluice gates have been opened, alert signal is repeatedly being flashed asking people residing in low lying areas to move to safeer places. “ In the event of more rainfall and rise in water level of the dam, all the sluice gate might be opened which might further inundate low lying areas and can even bring flash flood,” EE Jha said.
When contacted, Bokaro deputy commissioner (DC) R M Ray stated that round the clock vigil was on and high alert has been sounded in several places of Bermo asking residents to take shelter in safe zones. “Bermo SDO Prem Ranjan and other district officials have been directed to keep strict vigil in their zones,” stated the DC.