The Hooghly’s hunger has become markedly visible at Serampore. The river has eroded into its right bank on its way to the sea for a 6-km stretch from Siddheswaritala to Mahesh in the sub-divisional town, instilling fear among the inhabitants of adjacent buildings.

The erosion was detected four years ago, when cracks developed in some residential abodes along the bank. This was in addition to damages caused to a few ghats along the river. The progress was slow then, but the recent heavy downpours have triggered an alarming increase the river’s volume, accompanied by turbulent water currents.

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Massive chunks of alluvial soil along the river’s banks have been washed away, and the hairline cracks have developed into fissures on roads running adjacent and parallel to the Hooghly

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