Malda, 07 September (H.S.): Rising water levels in the Ganga and severe riverbank erosion have triggered concern across Malda district, where a nearly 150-year-old Shiva temple in Muliram Tola of Mahanandatola under Ratua-I Block has been swallowed by the river.

The temple was swept away amid the strong current and continuing erosion. Visuals of the old temple disappearing into the river have also gone viral on social media, adding to the alarm among local residents.

Since Monday morning, the Ganga's water level has continued to rise, while riverbank erosion has intensified in the Bhutni area of Manikchak. A connecting embankment road near a bridge has been submerged, cutting off road connectivity between Bhutni Island, Manikchak and the mainland areas of Malda.

Local residents said they were already living in fear due to the rising water level and the river's increasingly dangerous condition. The disappearance of the historic Shiva temple has further heightened concerns over additional erosion and possible damage to nearby settlements.

The administration has stepped up efforts to deal with the situation. District authorities and officials of the Irrigation Department are monitoring the affected areas and have begun efforts to construct an alternative embankment and road.

Central forces and disaster management teams have also been deployed in the area. Officials are planning to create a temporary route using sand, wooden logs, iron poles and broken bricks.

According to administrative sources, a new road of approximately 100 metres is being planned to restore access to Bhutni Island. However, the construction of the route is expected to take at least two to three days.

Meanwhile, the only primary school at Paschim Ratanpur in the Bhutni Diara area of Manikchak is also facing the threat of being swallowed by the river. The school, established in 1968, is located in an area where erosion has been continuing.

Residents fear that if the erosion continues at the present pace, the primary school could also be lost to the river soon.

BJP MLA Gaur Chandra Mandal had visited the affected area last Tuesday along with officials from the Irrigation Department and the block administration to assess the situation.

The continuously rising water level of the Ganga and the rapid erosion have intensified anxiety among residents of Malda's riverbank areas, posing a major challenge for the administration in protecting vulnerable locations.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey