Malda, Aug. 25: The district administration today asked the people of Hiranandapur gram panchayat on Bhutni island to move to safer places as an embankment along the Ganga would be breached anytime.

Addressing her first news conference after taking charge as the Malda district magistrate, Archana said the irrigation department was working on a war footing to repair the embankment.

“However, there is still the possibility of the embankment being breached and we have issued a warning to people living in the area to move to safer locations,” she said.

Sources said about 30,000 people live in the immediate vicinity of the embankment.

Archana said 20 boats, 5,000 plastic sheets and five quintals of flattened rice had been kept in Bhutni to tackle any eventuality. The state government has been requested to release Rs 15 lakh to repair the embankment.

“Reports say 10,791 mud houses have been completely destroyed and another 15,000 partially damaged in the flood. Over 2.5 lakh people have been affected in total. We have opened 25 relief camps,” said Archana.

She said the rivers had not risen further and there was a hope that the situation would gradually improve. “But we are very worried about the situation in Bhutni and that is why we have kept boats and the relief material ready,” she said.