Rain continues in Jharkhand, bridge collapses

The bridge over the Tahele river in Garhwa district collapsed when four of its ten pillars caved in last night following uninterrupted rain for the past three days, the sources said.

Several rivers like Swarnarekha, Koel and Saraswati were flowing to the capacity for the continuous rain due to a depression formed over Jamshedpur.

The depression, however, has weakened and moved away in the north-west direction, but heavy rains are expected across Jharkhand in the next 24 hours, Director, Meta office here G K Mohanty said.

There was no loss of life following the rains, but reports of loss to property had been received. Four houses collapsed at Hydernagar in Palamau district, while over fifty families were affected as water entered their villages in Palamau and Garwha, official sources said.

The occupants of the collapsed houses had left before the incident, the sources added.

Deputy Commissioner of Garhwa Rajendra Prasad Sinha said he had received information that all the sluice gates on the Sone river were opened in Uttar Pradesh following rains in that state.

"After getting the information, we have alerted villagers under Kandi block," Sinha said.