Jamshedpur: Over 500 houses were inundated in low-lying areas of Steel City on Friday after the Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers breached their danger levels.Officials said the Kharkai was flowing 4.70 metres above its danger level of 129 m, while the Subarnarekha was 1.29 m above its danger mark of 1.28m by evening.Bagbera, Jugsalai, Kadma, Sidhgora, Mango and other localities were affected as overflowing drains and river water entered houses early Friday.“Around 3:30 am, water started gushing into houses. We alerted residents to shift belongings to safer places and informed block officials,” said Dharmendra Chauhan, a social worker in Bagbera Naya Basti.Officials attributed the surge to intermittent rain since Wednesday and water released from Chandil dam, Galudih barrage and Bankabal dam in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district. Chandil released 350 cumecs into the river and 30 cumecs into the canal, while Galudih discharged around 5,000 cumecs.On East Singhbhum DC Rajiv Ranjan’s directions, civic teams began relief operations. Officials visited Bagbera and urged residents to move to rescue centres. Autorickshaws made public announcements warning people against approaching riverbanks.Some residents alleged they were not alerted in time about dam releases. Jamshedpur recorded 101 mm of rain between Aug 12 and 14, with more rain forecast over the weekend.
