A 175-year-old Shiva temple in Ratua collapsed into the Ganga River on Sunday as severe flooding and riverbank erosion continued to worsen across the district.
The collapse comes amid warnings that water levels are expected to keep rising until September 9, following heavy inflows from Bihar.
Bhutni Island, under Manikchak block, has been among the worst-affected areas. The island’s only local hospital has been forced to shut, with basic healthcare services temporarily relocated to the panchayat office.
Authorities have also moved pregnant women from Bhutni to two school buildings in Manikchak as a precaution amid the deteriorating conditions.
The flooding and erosion have affected areas beyond Manikchak and Ratua, with English Bazar also suffering significant damage. At Khaskol, large stretches of land and mango orchards have reportedly been swallowed by the river.
State ministers have been visiting affected areas as government officials and emergency teams intensify relief and rescue operations.
Authorities are continuing to monitor river levels and erosion hotspots while providing assistance to communities facing displacement and damage to homes, farmland and public infrastructure.
The worsening situation has raised concerns about further losses if river levels continue to climb in the coming days.