Jamshedpur: Residents of low-lying areas along Subernarekha and Kharkai rivers heaved a sigh of relief on Sunday as water levels began receding overnight after flooding homes and colonies across the city.Many families, however, continued to stay at safer places as intermittent rain in the region and neighbouring Odisha kept alive fears of fresh release from upstream dams and barrages.“Apprehension persists, but district administration officials are alert and in regular touch with us,” said Subodh Jha, a resident of Bagbera Naya Basti, where more than 200 houses were inundated on Friday.Relief operations continued in affected pockets of Kadma, Sonari, Bagbera and Mango, with civic bodies, police and social and political organisations supplying food and drinking water. JD(U) workers served khichdi in Ramjanamnagar, Shastrinagar and Nirmal Colony, while Jugsalai police distributed food in Garib Nawaz Colony.Jharkhand Bijli Vitran Nigam Ltd restored power supply in all affected areas. Officials were asked to remain vigilant and closely monitor the situation.East Singhbhum deputy commissioner Rajiv Ranjan directed officials of Jamshedpur Notified Area Committee, Mango Municipal Corporation and Jugsalai Municipal Council to coordinate with departments concerned and issue timely alerts if the rivers breach danger marks again following dam releases.The water levels rose sharply on Friday after 8,643.85 cusecs was released from Bankabal dam in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district, along with discharge from Chandil dam and the Kharkai and Galudih barrages. The Kharkai rose 4.30 metres above its danger mark, while the Subernarekha crossed the threshold by 1.20 m.Around 100 mm rainfall between Aug 12 and 14 aggravated the situation. Scanty rain on Aug 15 and 16 helped the rivers recede, easing pressure on vulnerable settlements.Officials said teams would remain deployed until water levels stabilised and residents returned safely.
