biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 25 JUNE: Eight-metre-high tidal waves, coupled with strong Easterly winds, have wreaked havoc in the coastal areas of East Midnapore, damaging the 78-km long sea-protection wall and submerging hundreds of hectares of agricultural land over the past two days. At least 10,000 people in 15 villages in Ramnagar-I and II, Khejuri-II, Contai-I and II and Nandigram-I blocks have been affected by adverse weather conditions produced by a depression over the Bay of Bengal.
Powerful waves have flattened several hamlets inhabited by fishermen and uprooted Casuarina trees. About 450 fishermen’s families living along the Digha coast and 50 families living along river banks at Bachurmari in Nandigram have already been shifted to safer places.
“A vast tract of land at Brindamanchowk, Kendemari, Bachurmari and Paschim Jalpai areas of Nandigram was badly affected when the mouth of the Haldi river began swelling owing to high tides. The river bank at Bachurmari was also broken leading to large-scale inundation,” said Mahmud Hossain, sahakari-sabhadhipati of the zilla parishad.
The sea-wall, which protects the multi-crore Sankarpur Fishing Harbour and the coastal areas along the Sankarpur-Digha coastline, has suffered considerable damage at various points.
Embankments in the Gangadharpur, Samnibasan, Atli and Jalda areas of Old Digha, and Bankipot, Bhogpur and a few areas of Contai-II block were also breached, inundating swathes of fertile lands.
Waves also lashed against the protection wall at Old Digha, inundating the local market. Tourists at various lodges in Digha were alerted to stay away from the wall.
“The situation is alarming as ferry services at many places have been suspended owing to tidal waves,” said Mr Hossain.
Mr Barun Maity, secretary, Digha Fishermen and Fish Traders’ Association, said, “Fishermen who had ventured out to sea in trawlers three days ago have returned safely. But we have issued restrictions asking fishermen not to venture into the sea until the depression weakens.”
An irrigation department official said earlier breaches in embankments have complicated the situation further.  “Breaches along 50 km of East Midnapore&’s 78-km coastline have been crying for repairs for over five years. A 4 km-long breach occurred at Shankarpur two years ago and has still not been repaired. As a result, the sea easily flooded many villages. Ten villages, including Shankarpur, Tajpur, Chandpur, Lachhimpur, Jamra-Shyampur, Jalda and Shaula, have been badly affected,” he said.
Bimalendu Jana (55), a fisherman from the coastal village of Tajpur, about 10 km from Digha, said the sea began to swell around 8 pm on Sunday. "There was chest-deep water in most parts of the village by 11 p.m. yesterday. The winds were so strong that my hut collapsed in front of my eyes,” said Jana.
Digha police has been patrolling the coast all day, asking tourists not to venture into the water. Four tourists were injured when they hit boulders due to the tidal surge, said a police officer.