Malda10 minutes agoAuthor: Tirthankar Das
After wreaking havoc in Ratua in the Malda district of the Indian state of West Bengal, the Ganga has now turned its fury towards Manikchak, where massive riverbank erosion has left residents staring anxiously at the river as chunks of land disappear into the water.
Bigha after bigha disappears into river
The erosion began in the Shanti More area under Gopalpur Gram Panchayat in Manikchak on Tuesday evening and continued through Wednesday morning. Residents said bigha after bigha of land was being swallowed by the river, raising fears that homes and livelihoods could soon be at risk.
Residents fear homes could vanish next
The situation has brought back painful memories of the devastation witnessed in neighbouring Ratua, where the rising Ganga has already caused severe erosion. As the river’s water level continues to rise, its current has become increasingly destructive.
Residents fear homes could vanish next
Residents of Jitu Tola under Mahanandtola Gram Panchayat in Ratua are also battling the same nightmare. Houses, trees, and portions of land have been washed away one after another as the river steadily eats into the banks.
For families living along the river, the sound of the Ganga is no longer just part of everyday life. It has become a warning.
Ratua faces similar devastating river erosion
Many residents are now living with the fear that the ground beneath their homes could disappear without warning. Years of hard work, farmland and ancestral property remain vulnerable to the changing course of the river.
Houses and trees swallowed by Ganga
The erosion is also threatening agricultural land, putting the livelihoods of families dependent on farming at risk. With the monsoon still exerting pressure on the river system, residents fear that the damage could increase if immediate protective measures are not taken.
Families await urgent administrative intervention
Locals have appealed to the administration to urgently inspect the affected areas and take steps to prevent further erosion.
For the people of Manikchak and Ratua, the Ganga has long been a source of life. But today, the same river is becoming a source of fear, uncertainty and heartbreak. Residents are desperately waiting for the administration to act before more land, homes, and memories disappear into the river.
