The flood situation in South Dinajpur continued on Tuesday as Sukanta Majumdar, the state BJP president and Balurghat MP, visited affected areas.

Atrayee, the river that flows through Balurghat district headquarters, flowed close to danger level as water was released from a dam in Bangladesh. The Punarbhaba river also flooded fresh areas of the district.

“Though it didn’t rain today (Tuesday), the water level of Atreyee is close to the danger level as water was released from Bangladesh. If such a situation persists, there is a risk that new areas in Kumarganj block and Balurghat would be flooded,” said a source in the district irrigation department.

The Punarbhaba, on the other hand, breached its embankment in two locations of the Tapan block, Chakjamalpur and Bajrapukur, and flooded a number of villages in Ramchandrapur, Rampara-Chanchra and Ajmatpur panchayats of the block.

“On Monday night, the swollen river damaged the embankment. People have been shifted to safer places. Work has begun on a war footing to repair the damage and prevent river water from flooding more areas. As of now, around 5,500 people are staying in flood shelters,” said an official of the district administration.

Acres of agricultural fields are underwater. “Once the water recedes, we can assess the damage to crops. Stretches of land where vegetables were cultivated and ready for harvest have been flooded,” said an official of the state agricultural department.

In Balurghat, water is yet to recede from Atrayee Colony of ward 17.

On Tuesday morning, state BJP chief Majumdar reached Buniadpur and Harirampur blocks of the district to check out the flood scenario.

Accompanied by party workers, he visited a number of villages by trudging through the water, spoke with residents in flood shelters and assured them of help.

“We are fortunate that it didn’t rain today (Tuesday). Or else, the flood situation has worsened. In South Dinajpur heavy rain often causes floods but the administration hardly takes preventive measures,” Majumdar alleged.

At Tapan block, a section of flood victims, led by local BJP leaders, raised a blockade on the Tapan-Gangarampur state highway on Tuesday, alleging the administration did not give them relief materials although 24 hours elapsed since they left home. Tapan police spoke with protesters and cleared the blockade after a couple of hours.