Diglipur: A night of incessant torrential rain triggered widespread flooding across Diglipur, inundating several villages, submerging several houses and displacing families, while exposing the region’s long-standing drainage woes. The worst-hit areas include Subhashgram, R.K. Gram, Madhupur, Magar Nallah, Laxmipur, Pashchimsagar, parts of Sitanagar and Kalighat, where floodwaters entered homes after the Kalpong River overflowed and merged with overflowing market drains.
Many residents were forced to abandon their homes and move to safer locations or designated relief shelters. Local residents reported extensive damage to household belongings, food grains, furniture, electrical appliances and livestock. “The water entered our house around during the midnight itself. Within hours everything was submerged,” said one affected resident, lamenting the loss of essential household items.
As floodwaters continued to rise, officials of the local administration, disaster management teams and Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members launched relief efforts, including the distribution of cooked food to affected families. However, some residents and local representatives alleged that the initial administrative response was delayed.
The Pradhan of R.K. Gram Panchayat claimed that despite repeated attempts to contact senior officials during the night, assistance was slow to arrive. He said local PRI members mobilised local resources on their own and served hot meals to over 50 economically vulnerable families whose homes had been severely damaged.
Residents and elected representatives said the flooding is a recurring monsoon ordeal caused by inadequate drainage where the market drain meets the Kalpong River. They have urged the Administration to prepare a permanent drainage plan for Diglipur and provide immediate compensation to all affected families under the Disaster
