Jamshedpur: Three days of incessant rain has disrupted normal life and caused extensive damage across the three districts of Kolhan division, with floodwaters entering hundreds of houses in low-lying areas and leaving one missing.In East Singhbhum district, rising waters of the Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers flooded several neighbourhoods, forcing residents to shift to safer locations. A 28-year-old man, Tipu Khan of Shastrinagar’s Block No. 2, went missing after he was reportedly swept away by floodwaters in Kadma late on Tuesday night.According to family members, Khan fell into an overflowing drain while rushing to safety after locking his inundated house. “We have not received any help from the administration in locating our brother,” his sister Shabana said while appealing to East Singhbhum SSP Ehtesham Waqarib to assist in tracing him.Deputy commissioner Rajiv Ranjan said an NDRF team has been deployed in the affected localities for rescue and relief operations. The administration has also opened 28 relief centres equipped with food, drinking water, lighting and sanitation facilities.The district administration said water levels in both the Subernarekha and Kharkai rivers were hovering around the danger mark on Wednesday evening, though a receding trend had been observed. Officials attributed the surge to the opening of multiple gates at Chandil Dam, Ganjia Barrage and Bangabil Dam, which released large volumes of water downstream.Jamshedpur recorded 87.5 mm of rainfall between Aug 17 and Aug 19 (10 am). The meteorological department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall over the next few hours.Several city roads remained submerged, including the busy Shastrinagar-Bistupur stretch, where floodwater reached areas near Ramada and Alcor hotels in Ranikudar.In West Singhbhum district, four people narrowly escaped after a mud house collapsed at Amlatola village on the outskirts of Chaibasa on Tuesday evening. A boundary wall of a Roman Catholic church also collapsed, while a gurdwara on Station Road was inundated. Five mud houses caved in at Chanpada village in Jagannathpur block.Deputy commissioner Manish Kumar inspected affected areas and directed officials to take all necessary measures to ensure residents’ safety. Waterlogging also hit traffic movement in Chaibasa, Chakradharpur, Manoharpur and Jagannathpur.In neighbouring Seraikela-Kharsawan district, the Khaparsai bridge connecting Seraikela and Kharsawan was submerged under nearly six feet of floodwater, disrupting vehicular movement and cutting off a key road link. The administration remains on alert amid forecasts of further rain.
