Padma River erosion destroyed 10 houses and a temple in Radhakrishnapur village in Murshidabad within hours on Sunday night, forcing at least 20 other families to dismantle their homes and move their belongings to safer ground, according to residents and local officials cited by The Telegraph India.
The erosion began on Sunday afternoon in the village under Raghunathganj police station and had reportedly pushed nearly 200 metres inland by around 10pm. The speed of the river’s advance left residents with little time to retrieve furniture and household goods. Several displaced families took shelter at Kalinagar Primary School, while others searched for safe locations for their families, livestock and possessions.
Among those who lost their homes was farmer Subal Singh, whose four-room pucca house was the last major asset remaining after the river consumed his farmland and orchards over the past two years. Singh and seven members of his family spent the night at the primary school.
“I worked hard to build my house, which drowned before my eyes yesterday (Sunday). I can’t bear it anymore. Last year, I lost around 12 bighas. This time, I lost everything. I am now forced to take shelter at the primary school,” Singh was quoted as saying.
Residents said they had warned the administration about the threat. Taibur Sheikh, a primary school teacher from the village, said residents submitted a memorandum to the Murshidabad district magistrate on September 9 seeking protection. According to Sheikh, residents were assured that the riverbank would be permanently repaired after the flood, but no such work had begun before the latest erosion.
The incident has also renewed concern in neighbouring Taranagar village under Lalgola police station, where extensive riverbank erosion occurred last year. The irrigation department subsequently undertook erosion-prevention work estimated at around ₹7.5 crore. Residents alleged that a substantial portion of that work was washed away during the latest erosion, leaving the remaining riverbank exposed.
“Due to poor execution of protective work, river banks failed to sustain minor water pressure. Almost half of the original work was washed away in one night. The Padma has now advanced closer to our houses, triggering panic,” Taranagar resident Mokhlesur Rahman was quoted as saying.
Many villagers in the affected areas began dismantling vulnerable houses so they could move to safer locations with whatever movable property they could salvage. The displacement has left families seeking shelter while also trying to secure livestock and essential household goods.
Raghunathganj MLA and Assembly Opposition chief whip Akhruzzaman said the district administration had submitted a proposal to the irrigation department for permanent riverbank protection and appealed to chief minister Suvendu Adhikari. Raghunathganj-II block development officer Shubhmoy Majhi said civil defence personnel had been deployed in vulnerable areas and irrigation department officials were monitoring conditions.
Majhi said arrangements had also been made to accommodate homeless residents at the Sekalipur flood shelter, where dry food and cooking equipment had been provided. The administration’s monitoring and shelter arrangements remain the immediate response as officials assess the erosion and the need for further riverbank protection.
