For hundreds of villagers in over a dozen villages in Samana, Tuesday night will go down in memory as the darkest ever night. The villagers woke up to the panic announcements of flood but by that time the maximum damage was done and now the rising water level has submerged their crops, cattle and houses causing losses worth lakhs.

“For over 24 hours, we were left to fend for ourselves. The lone boat stationed by the local administration never had an expert to use it,” said villagers in Dharmeri and Gheura.