Banana rafts, children on shoulders: This Bengal village struggles to stay afloat

In several areas of Baduria in North 24 Parganas of West Bengal, villagers are facing a distressing situation and are struggling to cope with severe waterlogging caused by continuous rains over the past several days.

Public life has come to a complete standstill in several villages, including Mirzapur, Papila, Kotalberia, Rasui and Potapara. In many areas, water levels have risen up to the knees and, in some places, have gone up to the waist. Cultivated lands, roads and even houses have submerged, leaving residents trapped and helpless.

The situation is so grave that sick patients are being transported to hospitals on banana rafts and children are not being able to attend school. In some cases, they are being carried on the shoulders of their parents through flooded streets. With movement being restricted, people are stepping out of their homes only when absolutely necessary. The flooding has also led to the invasion of snakes and insects inside homes, adding to the residents' fears.

Locals are furious over the current situation, claiming that such flooding has become a yearly occurrence during the rainy season. Despite repeated appeals to the administration, including the local panchayat and the MLA, no concrete action has been taken to address the crisis.

The villagers now demand immediate intervention from the administration to resolve the situation and prevent further suffering.

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