Dumka, Sept. 28: This Puja, the dhak, jatra and Bengali mishti, the favourites even among the non-Bengalis, particularly the tribals of Santhal Pargana region, are missing in the districts of Santhal Pargana, adjacent to Bengal. Reason: the week-long depression and the resultant incessant rains and subsequent floods have dampened the spirit of Puja revelers.

If it was the turn of Indradev (rain god) to mar the Puja, the failure of the government machinery compounded people’s owes.

“Chief minister Madhu Koda did not reach Sahebganj, he returned from Deoghar,” alleged former chief minister Babulal Marandi. “This shows how serious is the government towards Santhal Pargana region,” quipped Marandi.

Flash floods have reportedly wrecked havoc in Sahebganj, Godda, Pakur and Dumka districts, while Deoghar and Jamtara have been partially affected. “The rain and flood completely ruined us,” was the complaint of the businessmen. “This time, we purchased readymade garments from Calcutta after taking loan from banks, but the nature’s fury finished us,” lamented the proprietor of Mani Dresses at Dumka town.

“Except the urban customers, last year we had a brisk business during the Puja from rural customers, but this time, people are not coming out of their homes as floods have damaged the roads,” said the shopkeepers in every district headquarters.

Some road links like Dumka-Bhagalpur and Dumka-Pakur, however, restored, but most of the district headquarters and panchayats remained cut off from outer world. Weeklong heavy downpour completely damaged the paddy in the region. Actual loss of agricultural and other properties, however, yet to be ascertained.

Failure of crisis management by the administration was exposed yesterday when the police caned innocent flood victims at Basantroy High School in Pathargama block under Godda district.

Divisional commissioner, Santhal Pargana, Siaram Prasad Sinha, who has been camping in Sahebganj district, expressed his concern over the incident and asked the deputy commissioner, Godda, to probe the incident.

Chief secretary M.K. Mondal, who had conducted aerial survey, ordered for air-dropping of relief materials in the worst-effected areas.