Kadma residents check out a part of Marine Drive that was washed away by the flood. Picture by Srinivas

Jamshedpur, June 19: Post-deluge, it was a day of rescue and salvage operations on a war footing today as the steel city, its satellite areas and parts of adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan limped back to normal.

As water marginally subsided in Kharkai and Subernarekha rivers, the administration, social agencies and political parties worked overtime to control the situation.

Tata Relief Committee launched a massive drive to provide medical aide to control epidemic in the flood-hit areas, pumping out of water was in full swing in several low-lying and upmarket localities, boats were pressed into service in waterlogged Kadma, Sonari, Mango, Bagbera, Shastrinagar and Adityapur and affected people were sent to relief camps. Food and medicines were distributed, too.

Though it did not rain today, a slight drizzle in the morning threatened to aggravate the situation. The Patna Meteorological Department, however, predicted the skies to clear tomorrow as the depression was moving towards Uttar Pradesh.

The administration announced that schools in the district would be closed for three days. They would now reopen only on Monday.

Chief minister Madhu Koda, his deputy Sudhir Mahto and land reforms minister Dulal Bhuiyan conducted an aerial survey of Jamshedpur, Bahragora and Seraikela-Kharsawan in a helicopter to take stock of the situation.

Koda held a lengthy meeting with chief secretary A.K. Basu, Kolhan commissioner B.K. Tripathy, East Singhbhum deputy commissioner R.K. Agarwal, police superintendents of East Singhbhum and Seraikela-Kharsawan Navin Kumar Singh and Laxman Prasad Singh, respectively, at the circuit house.

Later, he announced compensation of Rs 30,000 for families with mud houses affected by flood, Rs 45,000 for those living in tin-shed and houses with temporary roof, and Rs one lakh to those who died in the watershed.

Informing media that 1,500 people have been affected in Seraikela-Kharsawan, he said the affected people would stay in the camps till the situation improved and the army would remain on vigil.

“I have directed the DC to conduct de-watering in the affected localities. A survey team will be formed to construct an embankment on Domuhani river,” said Koda.

Meanwhile, several families today remained stuck in their houses in Ashiana Gardens (Sonari), Geetanjali Apartments and Jaiprabha Complex and Green Park in Kadma. Several non-Tisco areas remained in darkness.

Two casualties were reported. While a young man was washed away in the Kharkai at Adityapur while trying to catch a rope thrown down from a helicopter, a small boy met the same fate on Adityapur bridge.

A portion of Marine Drive caved in this afternoon and a big crack developed on the road. Jamshedpur Utilities and Services Company (Jusco) authorities rushed to the spot. There was no casualty. Marine Drive runs along Domuhani and Subernarekha.

Meanwhile, in Turamdih tailing dam catchment area of the Uranium Corporation of India Ltd (Ucil) in Jadugoda, there was accumulation of water, which overflowed into down-stream area flooding the monitoring pond, said Atul Bajpai, PRO of Ucil.

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre’s environmental surveillance laboratory officials collected water samples and initial screening revealed there was no increase in radioactivity. UCIL has arranged to take regular water sample for analysis.

The work at Turamdih mill was interrupted for a short while by a power breakdown, but the situation was brought under control and pumping from monitoring pond to Effluent Treatment Plant was restored, said Bajpai.

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