July 23: Incessant rain over the past 48 hours has increased the water levels of several rivers in Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts, affecting at least 5,000 people residing in lower areas.

The North Bengal Flood Control Commission (NBFCC) has declared yellow alert along the banks of the Teesta from Domohoni to the Bangladesh border following heavy rain. The alert is issued when the water level in a river crosses a certain mark, warning that people living along it could be affected.

Mahamayapara, Newtownpara, Pandapara, Congresspara and Netajipara in Jalpaiguri town are marooned. “Heavy rain and the overflowing Karala river caused flood in some low-lying wards this morning,” said Mohan Bose, the chairman of the Jalpaiguri Municipality.

Water from the Karala has seeped into Nichmath, located on the outskirts of the town, prompting the residents to move to higher places.

Met officials said it had rained 166 mm in Jalpaiguri in the past 24 hours till 8 this morning. According to them, rainfall above 65.5mm is considered a “heavy one”, while 125.5mm rain is “very heavy”.

The Spur 1 of the Teesta embankment, which protects Jalpaiguri town from floods, has suffered damage and the NBFCC officials said it would be repaired tomorrow.

In Malbazar, water level in the Neora has gone up. “The river was flowing over NH31 in some areas in the morning but it receded by afternoon,” said Sujit Das, a resident of Odlabari.

Water level in the Torsha, Raidak, Kaljani, Mansai, Sankosh and Singimari in Alipurduar and Cooch Behar has also increased but no alert has been declared so far.

Around 4,000 people have fled from five-six wards of the Alipurduar town to upper areas. The civil defence department has pressed into service three boats for rescue operations. Some tea estates and villages like Kumargram in the subdivision were waterlogged till this evening.

Dipto Chatterjee, the vice-chairman of the Alipurduar Municipality, said motors were being used to pump water out of the town.

In Cooch Behar, Mantu Das Palli and Keshab Road have been partially submerged. Despite heavy rain, no water-logging has been reported from Mathabhanga.

Weather experts said heavy rain would continue as there would be monsoon clouds over sub-Himalayan West Bengal for at least two more days. “The weather is likely to remain the same for the next two days,” said Subir Sarkar, the in-charge of the North Bengal University’s weather station.