Floods and rain forecast

July 8: Several places in Darjeeling and Cooch Behar districts were inundated today because of consistent rain in the past 24 hours. The Met department forecast heavy rain in Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar districts in the next 48 hours. People had to face inconvenience as rainwater accumulated in low-lying areas like Sishubari, Champasari and Fulbari on the outskirts of Siliguri. By late afternoon, the water level receded. In Cooch Behar, 4,000 families were taken to safer places because of floods in Tufanganj I block, where water from the Kaljani breached the banks and entered villages like Panishala, Bhuchungmari and Dwarikamari. While Siliguri received 40mm rain in 24 hours till 8.30am today, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar recorded 70mm of rainfall each. Bagdogra and Kharibari recorded 90mm and 100mm rain, respectively.