The flood-like situation in South Dinajpur district has become grim as water level in several rivers has gone up, while they have also spilled banks at different locations.

The district administration has already sprung into action and has made arrangements for the safety of people, while officials say relief and food items for the flood affected are on the ready

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One relief camp has been opened in the Tapan block, where flood-affected people from many places have taken shelter. The District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police, meanwhile, visited the floodaffected areas on Tuesday.

In Gangarampur, the water level in the river Punarbhaba has crossed the danger mark, while a portion of the embankment was washed away in the Fatkapara area last night. The swollen Punarbhaba has also flooded agricultural fields at Belbari and Nandanpur panchayat area. A total of 10 villages have been affected by floodwaters from the Punarbhaba river in the Tapan block.

“One relief camp has been opened in Tapan, while the District Magistrate of South Dinajpur paid a visit to Gangarampur and met the Subdivisional administrative officers. All the Block Development Officers have been sent to take stock of the flood affected areas,” administration sources said

In the Balurghat Sub-division, Kumarganj and Balurghat blocks have been flooded by waters from the Atryee river. Twenty families of Brambhapur under the Kumarganj block took shelter in a primary school as the water level in the Atryee touched the danger mark last night, official sources said.

This morning, more than 100 families of Beline and Dakra villages under Chakvrigue, took shelter at the Balurghat railway station as well as in local flood shelters. The water level in the Atryee went up further this morning, while the floodwaters inundated new areas under the Balurghat municipality.

“More than 71 families have been shifted to flood shelters. The administration has arranged for safe shelter for a few families in their areas. Medical teams have been deployed and relief teams are working round the clock,” Municipality administrator and SDO, Isha Mukherjee, said.