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Coordinates: 23°24′43″N 88°22′51″E / 23.41194°N 88.38083°E / 23.41194; 88.38083
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{{Use Indian English|date=May 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2023}}
{{Infobox river
{{Infobox river
| name = Jalangi River
| name = Jalangi River
| name_native = জলঙ্গী, খড়ে
| native_name = {{native name list |tag1=bn|name1=জলঙ্গী |tag2=bn|name2=খড়ে}}
| name_native_lang = bn
| name_other = খড়িয়া
| name_other = খড়িয়া
| name_etymology =
| name_etymology =
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| subdivision_name5 = [[Krishnanagar, Nadia|Krishnanagar]], [[Tehatta]], [[Mayapur]]
| subdivision_name5 = [[Krishnanagar, Nadia|Krishnanagar]], [[Tehatta]], [[Mayapur]]
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
<!---------------------- PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS -->
| length = {{convert|220.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} But recent study revealed that it is 233 km
| length = {{convert|233|km|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_min = {{convert|75.89|m|mi|abbr=on}} at Moktarpur–Chandpur
| width_min = {{convert|75.89|m|mi|abbr=on}} at Moktarpur–Chandpur
| width_avg = {{convert|162.58|m|mi|abbr=on}}
| width_avg = {{convert|162.58|m|mi|abbr=on}}
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<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
<!---------------------- BASIN FEATURES -->
| source1 = River Padma
| source1 = River Padma
| source1_location = The Jalangi leaves the [[Ganges]] or [[Padma river|Padma]] near [[bhagawangola]] in [[Murshidabad district]]
| source1_location = The Jalangi leaves the [[Ganges]] or [[Padma river|Padma]] at [[Char Madhubona]] in [[Karimpur-I, Nadia district]]
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|20|05|26|N|88|41|53|E}}
| source1_coordinates= {{coord|20|05|26|N|88|41|53|E}}
| source1_elevation =
| source1_elevation =
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| river_system =
| river_system =
| basin_size = {{convert|2815.33|km2|abbr=on}}
| basin_size = {{convert|2815.33|km2|abbr=on}}
| tributaries_left = Bhairab Khal (different from Bhairab river and a different channel), Kesto-Raier Khal, Saraswati Khal, River Anjana
| tributaries_left = Bhairab Khal (different from Bhairab river and a different channel), Kesto-Raier Khal, Saraswati Khal, [[Anjana River]]
| tributaries_right = Sialmari, Bhairab River, Chhoto Bhairab, Gobra-Suti Nala, Kalma Khal
| tributaries_right = Sialmari, Bhairab River, Chhoto Bhairab, Gobra-Suti Nala, Kalma Khal
| custom_label =
| custom_label =
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| extra =
| extra =
}}
}}
[[Image:Van de Brook's map.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Van den Brouck’s map of 1660]]
[[File:Van de Brook's map.jpg|250px|right|thumb|Van den Brouck's map of 1660]]


'''Jalangi River''' ({{lang-bn| জলঙ্গী নদী}}), is a branch of the [[Ganges river]] in [[Murshidabad district|Murshidabad]] and [[Nadia district|Nadia]] districts in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. It flows into the Bhagirathi river and strengthens its lower channel, the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]].<ref>Majumdar, Dr. R.C., ''History of Ancient Bengal'', First published 1971, Reprint 2005, p. 4, Tulshi Prakashani, Kolkata, {{ISBN|81-89118-01-3}}.</ref>
'''Jalangi River''' ({{langx|bn| জলঙ্গী নদী}}), is a branch of the [[Ganges river]] in [[Murshidabad district|Murshidabad]] and [[Nadia district|Nadia]] districts in the [[India]]n [[States and territories of India|state]] of [[West Bengal]]. It flows into the Bhagirathi river and strengthens its lower channel, the [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]].<ref>Majumdar, Dr. R.C., ''History of Ancient Bengal'', First published 1971, Reprint 2005, p. 4, Tulshi Prakashani, Kolkata, {{ISBN|81-89118-01-3}}.</ref>


The river below the point where the Jalangi meets the [[Ganges river|Ganges]] is known as [[Hooghly River|Hooghly]] and the course above it from the point of its separation from the main flow of the Ganges to its confluence with the Jalangi, it is called Bhagirathi.<ref>Bandopadhyay, Dilip Kumar, ''Bharater Nadi'' (Rivers of India), 2002, {{in lang|bn}}, p. 68, Bharati Book Stall, 6B Ramanath Mazumdar Street, Kolkata</ref>
The river below the point where the Jalangi meets the Ganges is known as the Hooghly and the course above it, from the point of its separation from the main flow of the Ganges to its confluence with the Jalangi, is called the Bhagirathi.<ref>Bandopadhyay, Dilip Kumar, ''Bharater Nadi'' (Rivers of India), 2002, {{in lang|bn}}, p. 68, Bharati Book Stall, 6B Ramanath Mazumdar Street, Kolkata</ref>


[[Ghurni]], a neighbourhood of [[Krishnanagar, Nadia|Krishnanagar]], a centre for the production of clay dolls, often referred to as Krishnanagar clay dolls, is located on the banks of the Jalangi. [[Nabadwip]], the birthplace of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] is located in the west bank of the united flow of river Jalangi and Bhagirathi.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Das|first1=Balai Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kb8DwAAQBAJ&q=The+Jalangi:+A+Story+of+Killing+of+a+Dying+River&pg=PA381|title=Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India|last2=Ghosh|first2=Sandipan|last3=Islam|first3=Aznarul|last4=Roy|first4=Suvendu|date=2020-10-27|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-000-19457-9|pages=387|language=en}}</ref> [[Mayapur]] is located at the confluence of the Jalanagi and Bhagirathi.
[[Ghurni]], a neighbourhood of [[Krishnanagar, Nadia|Krishnanagar]], a centre for the production of clay dolls, often referred to as Krishnanagar clay dolls, is located on the banks of the Jalangi. [[Nabadwip]], the birthplace of [[Chaitanya Mahaprabhu]] is located in the west bank of the united flow of river Jalangi and Bhagirathi.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Das|first1=Balai Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kb8DwAAQBAJ&q=The+Jalangi:+A+Story+of+Killing+of+a+Dying+River&pg=PA381|title=Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India|last2=Ghosh|first2=Sandipan|last3=Islam|first3=Aznarul|last4=Roy|first4=Suvendu|date=2020-10-27|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-000-19457-9|pages=387|language=en}}</ref> [[Mayapur]] is located at the confluence of the Jalanagi and Bhagirathi.


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The name ''Jalangi'' derives from two Bengali words ''Jal'' (Water) and ''Angi'' (who (female) posses body). ‘Jalangi’ is a Bengali word meaning ‘watery body’ or ‘the body is made of water’.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Das|first1=Balai Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kb8DwAAQBAJ&q=The+Jalangi:+A+Story+of+Killing+of+a+Dying+River&pg=PA381|title=Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India|last2=Ghosh|first2=Sandipan|last3=Islam|first3=Aznarul|last4=Roy|first4=Suvendu|date=2020-10-27|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-000-19457-9|pages=385|language=en}}</ref> However, the name ‘Jalangi’ has been derived from that very settlement ‘Jalangi’ in P.S. [[Jalangi]] of [[Murshidabad district]], at which, the river would take-off its supply from river [[Padma River|Padma]] (Majumder, 1995, p-37)
The name ''Jalangi'' derives from two Bengali words ''Jal'' (Water) and ''Angi'' (who (female) possess body). ‘Jalangi’ is a Bengali word meaning ‘watery body’ or ‘the body is made of water’.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Das|first1=Balai Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kb8DwAAQBAJ&q=The+Jalangi:+A+Story+of+Killing+of+a+Dying+River&pg=PA381|title=Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India|last2=Ghosh|first2=Sandipan|last3=Islam|first3=Aznarul|last4=Roy|first4=Suvendu|date=2020-10-27|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-000-19457-9|pages=385|language=en}}</ref> However, the name ‘Jalangi’ has been derived from that very settlement ‘Jalangi’ in P.S. [[Jalangi]] of [[Murshidabad district]], at which, the river would take-off its supply from river [[Padma River|Padma]] (Majumder, 1995, p-37)


==Course==
Jalangi is a moribund river of 233&nbsp;km in length in the Bhagirathi-Hooghly basin. The river is simultaneously a distributary of the river Padma and a tributary of the river Bhagirathi. The reach of 9.1&nbsp;km from abandoned off-take at Char Madhubona near Gopalpur (Ghat) to Sialmari confluence at Kopila is erased out from the map of the region and 41.9&nbsp;km from Sialmari confluence to Bhairab-Jalangi confluence at Moktarpur, though traceable but dead at present. The reach downstream to the Bhairab-Jalangi confluence up to Jalangi-Bhagirathi confluence at Swarupganj (182&nbsp;km) is being maintained by the base flow of seepage water, contribution of Bhairab, and other spills during two months of the rainy season.<ref name="doi.org">Das BC and Bhattacharya S (2020). The Jalangi: A Story of Killing of a Dying River. In Das et al. (2020) eds. Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India. Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN (eBook) 9781003032373. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003032373</ref>


The Jalangi leaves the Ganges or Padma at the extreme north of the Nadia district at 24°05´26´´ N and 88°41´53´´ E and joins the river Bhagirathi at Swarupganj (23°24´42´´ N and 88°22´50´´ E), opposite Nabadwip, the birth-place of Sri Chaitanya.


1. Offtake at Char-Madhubona to Sialmari Confluence at Kopila 9.10&nbsp;km (Untraceable)

2. Sialmari Confluence at Kopila to Bhairab Confluence at Moktarpur 41.9&nbsp;km (Dead)
==The course of the river==
3. Bhairab Confluence at Moktarpur to Suti Confluence at Bali-Tungi 42.7&nbsp;km
Jalangi is a moribund river of 233 km in length in the Bhagirathi-Hooghly basin. The river is simultaneously a distributary of the river Padma and a tributary of the river Bhagirathi. The reach of 9.1 km from abandoned off-take at Char Madhubona near Gopalpur (Ghat) to Sialmari confluence at Kopila is erased out from the map of the region and 41.9 km from Sialmari confluence to Bhairab-Jalangi confluence at Moktarpur, though traceable but dead at present. The reach downstream to the Bhairab-Jalangi confluence up to Jalangi-Bhagirathi confluence at Swarupganj (182km) is being maintained by the base flow of seepage water, contribution of Bhairab, and other spills during two months of the rainy season.
4. Suti Confluence at Bali-Tungi to Kalma Khal Confluence at Radhanagar 55.2&nbsp;km

5. Kalma Khal Confluence at Radhanagar to Bhagirathi-Jalangi Confluence at Swarupganj 84.1&nbsp;km
The Jalangi leaves the Ganges or Padma at the extreme north of the Nadia district at 24°05´26´´ N and 88°41´53´´ E.
Total length from Offtake at Char-Madhubona to Bhagirathi-Jalangi Confluence at Swarupganj 233&nbsp;km <ref name="doi.org"/><mapframe latitude="23.411944444444444" longitude="88.38083333333333" zoom="11" width="400" height="300" />
1 Offtake at Charmadhubona to Sialmari Confluence at Kopila 9.10 km (Untraceable)
2 Sialmari Confluence at Kopila to Bhairab Confluence at Moktarpur 41.9 km (Dead)
3 Bhairab Confluence at Moktarpur to Suti Confluence 42.7 km
4 Suti Confluence to Kalma Khal Confluence at Radhanagar 55.2 km
5 Kalma Khal Confluence at Radhanagar to Bhagirathi-Jalangi Confluence 84.1 km
Total length from Offtake at Charmadhubona to Bhagirathi-Jalangi Confluence 233 km <ref>2. Das BC and Bhattacharya S (2020). The Jalangi: A Story of Killing of a Dying River. In Das et al. (2020) eds. Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India. Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN (eBook) 9781003032373. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003032373</ref>


==Changes in the course of rivers==
==Changes in the course of rivers==
The Jalangi is a modern stream, but its age is not known. Apparently it opened up long after the [[Bhairab River]] ran as a strong stream in a south easterly direction. Although it is generally believed that the river has opened up within the last few hundred years, there is no direct evidence of this.<ref name = "Hirst">Hirst, Major F.C., Director of Surveys, Bengal and Assam, ''Report on the Nadia Rivers 1915'', first published in 1916 by the Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, reproduced in ''Rivers of Bengal'', Vol III, p.27, West Bengal District Gazetteers, Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal, 2002.</ref> It is shown in Van den Brouck’s map.<ref>Roy, Niharranjan, ''Bangalir Itihas, Adi Parba'', {{in lang|bn}}, first published 1972, reprint 2005, p. 84, Dey’s Publishing, 13 Bankim Chatterjee Street, Kolkata, {{ISBN|81-7079-270-3}}</ref>
The Jalangi is a modern stream, but its age is not known. Apparently it opened up long after the [[Bhairab River]] ran as a strong stream in a south easterly direction. Although it is generally believed that the river has opened up within the last few hundred years, there is no direct evidence of this.<ref name = "Hirst">Hirst, Major F.C., Director of Surveys, Bengal and Assam, ''Report on the Nadia Rivers 1915'', first published in 1916 by the Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, reproduced in ''Rivers of Bengal'', Vol III, p.27, West Bengal District Gazetteers, Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal, 2002.</ref> It is shown in Van den Brouck's map.<ref>Roy, Niharranjan, ''Bangalir Itihas, Adi Parba'', {{in lang|bn}}, first published 1972, reprint 2005, p. 84, Dey's Publishing, 13 Bankim Chatterjee Street, Kolkata, {{ISBN|81-7079-270-3}}</ref>


The Bhairab once flowed from the Ganges, across the present beds of the Jalangi, and further eastwards towards [[Faridpur District|Faridpur]]. The Bhairab is no more a very active river. The Mathabhanga is a younger stream than Jalangi and it was not till very recently that the river completed its junction with the Hooghly by adopting the [[River Churni|Churni]] (now its lower reaches) for its main course. Earlier most of the water of the Mathabhanga ran off to the east down the Kumara, Chitra, Coboduk (Bhairab), and [[Ichamati River|Ichamati]], but all these escape routes have been shut off, except a small amount for the Ichamati.<ref name = "Hirst"/>
The Bhairab once flowed from the Ganges, across the present beds of the Jalangi, and further eastwards towards [[Faridpur District|Faridpur]]. The Bhairab is no more a very active river. The Mathabhanga is a younger stream than Jalangi and it was not till very recently that the river completed its junction with the Hooghly by adopting the [[River Churni|Churni]] (now its lower reaches) for its main course. Earlier most of the water of the Mathabhanga ran off to the east down the Kumara, Chitra, Coboduk (Bhairab), and [[Ichamati River|Ichamati]], but all these escape routes have been shut off, except a small amount for the Ichamati.<ref name = "Hirst"/>
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==Bridge==
==Bridge==
At present, there are 4 complete road-bridges and 2 rail-bridges on the Jalangi. Two are left incomplete road bridges. One railway bridge is also awaiting completion. The complete and incomplete bridges are:<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Das |first1=Balai Chandra |last2=Islam |first2=Aznarul |last3=Das |first3=Shrabani |last4=Adhikary |first4=Riya |last5=Sarkar |first5=Rohini |date=2024-10-17 |title=Bridge Construction Impacts the Adjacent Channel Morphology and Turbidity: A Study on a Dying Distributary of River Padma |journal=Earth Science, Systems and Society |volume=4 |doi=10.3389/esss.2024.10099 |doi-access=free |issn=2634-730X}}</ref>
At present, there are 3 complete road-bridges and 2 rail-bridges on the river Jalangi. '''Three''' incomplete road bridges are also waiting for completion. From upstream to downstream, those are-
{| class="wikitable"
|+List of Bridges on the river Jalangi
!Sl. No.
!Name of the bridge (year of inauguration)
!Location of Road crossings
!Latitude/ Longitude
!Present status
|-
|1
|Old Rail Bridge at Krishnagar
(1905)
|On Sealdah-Lalgola Railway at Krishnagar
|23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´11´´ E
|Complete
|-
|2
|New Rail Bridge at Krishnagar
(2012)
|On Sealdah-Lalgola Railway at Krishnagar
|23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´12´´ E
|Complete
|-
|3
|Dwijendra Setu, named by Honorable Pūrta& Sarak minister Sri Kshiti Goswami on 21st July 1995
|On NH 12 (Formerly NH-34) at Krishnagar
|23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´16´´ E
|Complete
|-
|4
|Highway Bridge-II,
Krishnagar


(2023)
* Karimpur-Bakshipur road bridge (incomplete) On Karimpur-Domkal Road,
|On NH-12 at Krishnagar
|23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´17´´ E
|Complete
|-
|5
|3rd Railway bridge at Krishnagar
(under construction since 2023)
|On Sealdah-Lalgola Railway at Krishnagar
|23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´10´´ E
|Under construction
|-
|6
|Karimpur-Bakshipur road bridge
|On Karimpur-Domkal Road
|23°58′58″ N and 88°37′20″ E
|Left Incomplete
|-
|7
|Fazilnagar–Amtala Bridge
|On proposed Fazilnagar–Amtala Road
|23°55′48″ N and 88°27′32″ E
|Left Incomplete
|-
|8
|Radhanagar–Patikabar bridge
|On Radhanagar–Patikabari–Nawda–Amtala Road
|23°49′20″ N and 88°28′14″ E
|Complete
|-
|9
|Dwijendralal Setu, inaugurated by Honorable Pūrta & Ābāsanan Minister Sri Jatin Chakraborty on 1st July 1979
|On Palashipara-Tehatta Road
|23°47′48″ N and 88°27′09″ E
|Complete
|}
*


* Fazilnagar-Amtala road bridge (incomplete) On proposed Fazilnagar-Amtala Road
* Radhanagar-Patikabari road bridge On Radhanagar-Patikabari-Nawda-Amtala Road
* Dwijendralal Setu (দ্বিজেন্দ্রলাল সেতু), inaugurated by Honorable Pūrta & Ābāsana Minister Sri Jatin Chakraborty on 1st July 1979 On Palashipara-Tehatta Road,at Palashipara
* Dwijendra Setu (দ্বিজেন্দ্র সেতু), named by Honorable Pūrta & Sarak minister Sri Kshiti Goswami on 21st July 1995 On NH 12 formerly NH-34 at Krishnagar
* Proposed Road Bridge-II On NH-12 at Krishnagar
* Old Rail Bridge at Krishnagar On Sealdah-Lalgola Railway inaugurated in 1905
* New Rail Bridge at Krishnagar On Sealdah-Lalgola Railway at Krishnagar inaugurated in 2012<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Das|first1=Balai Chandra|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1kb8DwAAQBAJ&q=The+Jalangi:+A+Story+of+Killing+of+a+Dying+River&pg=PA381|title=Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India|last2=Ghosh|first2=Sandipan|last3=Islam|first3=Aznarul|last4=Roy|first4=Suvendu|date=2020-10-27|publisher=CRC Press|isbn=978-1-000-19457-9|pages=265–279|language=en}}</ref>
==Bengali poetry==
==Bengali poetry==
<gallery mode="packed">


* The Jalangi is emotionally referred to by the modern Bengali poet [[Jibanananda Das]] in his poem ''abar asibo phire'':<ref>Bandopadhyay, Dilip Kumar, p. 226</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://victorian.fortunecity.com/canal/178/file/zibon12.htm|title=Zibananada Das|work=Abar Asibo Firey|publisher=Fortune City|access-date=2007-11-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013231902/http://victorian.fortunecity.com/canal/178/file/zibon12.htm|archive-date=2007-10-13}}</ref>
File:Jalangi River.jpg|Jalangi near Krishnanagar, West Bengal, India
File:শিয়ালকাঁটা1.jpg|Beauty of Jalangi River (Pricky Poppy flowers)
File:Beauty of Jalangi River 3.jpg|Colourful Local flowers in Jalangi River

</gallery>

The Jalangi is emotionally referred to by the modern Bengali poet [[Jibanananda Das]] in his poem ''abar asibo phire'':<ref>Bandopadhyay, Dilip Kumar, p. 226</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://victorian.fortunecity.com/canal/178/file/zibon12.htm|title=Zibananada Das|work=Abar Asibo Firey|publisher=Fortune City|access-date=2007-11-28|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071013231902/http://victorian.fortunecity.com/canal/178/file/zibon12.htm|archive-date=2007-10-13}}</ref>


:''"abar asibo ami banglar nodi math khet bhalobeshe''
:''"abar asibo ami banglar nodi math khet bhalobeshe''
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::(When again I come, smitten by Bengal's rivers and fields, to this
::(When again I come, smitten by Bengal's rivers and fields, to this
::Green and kindly land, Bengal, moistened by the Jalangi river's waves.)
::Green and kindly land, Bengal, moistened by the Jalangi river's waves.)

Lyricist Sagar Chattapadhyaya and folk singer Bablu Halder's song is well known regarding the Jalangi river as ''<nowiki/>'O Amar Jalangi Nadi, Tor Kolete Roilam Ami, Janamo Abodhi'''
* Lyricist Sagar Chattapadhyaya and folk singer Bablu Halder's song is well known regarding the Jalangi river.
:''Oo Amar Jalangi Nadi'',
:''Tor Kolete Roilam Ami, Janamo Abodhi''

==Gallery ==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:Jalangi river in Tehatta Ghat, Nadia 04.jpg|Jalangi river in Tehatta
File:শিয়ালকাঁটা1.jpg|Beauty of Jalangi River (Pricky Poppy flowers)
File:River Jalangi - Krishnanagar - Nadia 2017-08-15 2383.JPG|River Jalangi at Krishnanagar
File:Jalangi River at Mayapur Nabdwip route, Nadia 11.jpg|Jalangi River near Mayapur, Nadia
File:Jalangi river in Tehatta Ghat, Nadia 09.jpg|A local bridge on Jalangi river
File:Jalangi River at Tehatta ghat, Nadia 02.jpg|Village boats in Jalangi River
</gallery>


==References==
==References==
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[[Category:Rivers of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Rivers of West Bengal]]
[[Category:Rivers of India]]

Latest revision as of 06:44, 17 November 2024

Jalangi River
খড়িয়া
Native name
Location
CountryIndia
StateWest Bengal
One of the three Nadia Rivers
DistrictMurshidabad and Nadia
CitiesKrishnanagar, Tehatta, Mayapur
Physical characteristics
SourceRiver Padma
 • locationThe Jalangi leaves the Ganges or Padma at Char Madhubona in Karimpur-I, Nadia district
 • coordinates20°05′26″N 88°41′53″E / 20.09056°N 88.69806°E / 20.09056; 88.69806
MouthBhagirathi
 • location
Swarupganj, opposite Nabadwip, the birth-place of Sri Chaitanya
 • coordinates
23°29′23″N 88°28′57″E / 23.48972°N 88.48250°E / 23.48972; 88.48250
Length233 km (145 mi)
Basin size2,815.33 km2 (1,087.00 sq mi)
Width 
 • minimum75.89 m (0.04716 mi) at Moktarpur–Chandpur
 • average162.58 m (0.10102 mi)
 • maximum224.21 m (0.13932 mi) at Moktarpur–Velanagar
Depth 
 • minimum0.82 m (0.00051 mi) at Jitpur-Saguna cross section
 • maximum7.74 m (0.00481 mi) at Sibpur-Hatishala cross section
Discharge 
 • locationBhagirathi-Hooghly
Basin features
Tributaries 
 • leftBhairab Khal (different from Bhairab river and a different channel), Kesto-Raier Khal, Saraswati Khal, Anjana River
 • rightSialmari, Bhairab River, Chhoto Bhairab, Gobra-Suti Nala, Kalma Khal
Van den Brouck's map of 1660

Jalangi River (Bengali: জলঙ্গী নদী), is a branch of the Ganges river in Murshidabad and Nadia districts in the Indian state of West Bengal. It flows into the Bhagirathi river and strengthens its lower channel, the Hooghly.[1]

The river below the point where the Jalangi meets the Ganges is known as the Hooghly and the course above it, from the point of its separation from the main flow of the Ganges to its confluence with the Jalangi, is called the Bhagirathi.[2]

Ghurni, a neighbourhood of Krishnanagar, a centre for the production of clay dolls, often referred to as Krishnanagar clay dolls, is located on the banks of the Jalangi. Nabadwip, the birthplace of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu is located in the west bank of the united flow of river Jalangi and Bhagirathi.[3] Mayapur is located at the confluence of the Jalanagi and Bhagirathi.

Etymology

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The name Jalangi derives from two Bengali words Jal (Water) and Angi (who (female) possess body). ‘Jalangi’ is a Bengali word meaning ‘watery body’ or ‘the body is made of water’.[4] However, the name ‘Jalangi’ has been derived from that very settlement ‘Jalangi’ in P.S. Jalangi of Murshidabad district, at which, the river would take-off its supply from river Padma (Majumder, 1995, p-37)

Course

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Jalangi is a moribund river of 233 km in length in the Bhagirathi-Hooghly basin. The river is simultaneously a distributary of the river Padma and a tributary of the river Bhagirathi. The reach of 9.1 km from abandoned off-take at Char Madhubona near Gopalpur (Ghat) to Sialmari confluence at Kopila is erased out from the map of the region and 41.9 km from Sialmari confluence to Bhairab-Jalangi confluence at Moktarpur, though traceable but dead at present. The reach downstream to the Bhairab-Jalangi confluence up to Jalangi-Bhagirathi confluence at Swarupganj (182 km) is being maintained by the base flow of seepage water, contribution of Bhairab, and other spills during two months of the rainy season.[5]

The Jalangi leaves the Ganges or Padma at the extreme north of the Nadia district at 24°05´26´´ N and 88°41´53´´ E and joins the river Bhagirathi at Swarupganj (23°24´42´´ N and 88°22´50´´ E), opposite Nabadwip, the birth-place of Sri Chaitanya.

1. Offtake at Char-Madhubona to Sialmari Confluence at Kopila 9.10 km (Untraceable) 2. Sialmari Confluence at Kopila to Bhairab Confluence at Moktarpur 41.9 km (Dead) 3. Bhairab Confluence at Moktarpur to Suti Confluence at Bali-Tungi 42.7 km 4. Suti Confluence at Bali-Tungi to Kalma Khal Confluence at Radhanagar 55.2 km 5. Kalma Khal Confluence at Radhanagar to Bhagirathi-Jalangi Confluence at Swarupganj 84.1 km

Total length from Offtake at Char-Madhubona to Bhagirathi-Jalangi Confluence at Swarupganj 233 km [5]

Map

Changes in the course of rivers

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The Jalangi is a modern stream, but its age is not known. Apparently it opened up long after the Bhairab River ran as a strong stream in a south easterly direction. Although it is generally believed that the river has opened up within the last few hundred years, there is no direct evidence of this.[6] It is shown in Van den Brouck's map.[7]

The Bhairab once flowed from the Ganges, across the present beds of the Jalangi, and further eastwards towards Faridpur. The Bhairab is no more a very active river. The Mathabhanga is a younger stream than Jalangi and it was not till very recently that the river completed its junction with the Hooghly by adopting the Churni (now its lower reaches) for its main course. Earlier most of the water of the Mathabhanga ran off to the east down the Kumara, Chitra, Coboduk (Bhairab), and Ichamati, but all these escape routes have been shut off, except a small amount for the Ichamati.[6]

The point to note is that while earlier the rivers in the region flowed in a south-easterly direction, but later some force pulled the Jalangi and the Mathabhanga in a south-westerly direction. The inference is that it occurred because of a local subsidence, which was active for some period prior to 1750 and which has since become inactive.[6]

Erosion

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Erosion of the banks is not only a problem for the more turbulent rivers such as Padma and Bhagirathi, but also comparatively smaller rivers such as Jalangi. In 2006, the state government sanctioned Rs. 7 crore for anti-erosion work in the Jalangi River.[8][9]

Bridge

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At present, there are 4 complete road-bridges and 2 rail-bridges on the Jalangi. Two are left incomplete road bridges. One railway bridge is also awaiting completion. The complete and incomplete bridges are:[10]

List of Bridges on the river Jalangi
Sl. No. Name of the bridge (year of inauguration) Location of Road crossings Latitude/ Longitude Present status
1 Old Rail Bridge at Krishnagar

(1905)

On Sealdah-Lalgola Railway at Krishnagar 23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´11´´ E Complete
2 New Rail Bridge at Krishnagar

(2012)

On Sealdah-Lalgola Railway at Krishnagar 23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´12´´ E Complete
3 Dwijendra Setu, named by Honorable Pūrta& Sarak minister Sri Kshiti Goswami on 21st July 1995 On NH 12 (Formerly NH-34) at Krishnagar 23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´16´´ E Complete
4 Highway Bridge-II,

Krishnagar

(2023)

On NH-12 at Krishnagar 23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´17´´ E Complete
5 3rd Railway bridge at Krishnagar

(under construction since 2023)

On Sealdah-Lalgola Railway at Krishnagar 23°24´48´´ N and 88°28´10´´ E Under construction
6 Karimpur-Bakshipur road bridge On Karimpur-Domkal Road 23°58′58″ N and 88°37′20″ E Left Incomplete
7 Fazilnagar–Amtala Bridge On proposed Fazilnagar–Amtala Road 23°55′48″ N and 88°27′32″ E Left Incomplete
8 Radhanagar–Patikabar bridge On Radhanagar–Patikabari–Nawda–Amtala Road 23°49′20″ N and 88°28′14″ E Complete
9 Dwijendralal Setu, inaugurated by Honorable Pūrta & Ābāsanan Minister Sri Jatin Chakraborty on 1st July 1979 On Palashipara-Tehatta Road 23°47′48″ N and 88°27′09″ E Complete

Bengali poetry

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  • The Jalangi is emotionally referred to by the modern Bengali poet Jibanananda Das in his poem abar asibo phire:[11][12]
"abar asibo ami banglar nodi math khet bhalobeshe
jalangir dheuey bheja banglar e shobuj korun dangaey"
(When again I come, smitten by Bengal's rivers and fields, to this
Green and kindly land, Bengal, moistened by the Jalangi river's waves.)
  • Lyricist Sagar Chattapadhyaya and folk singer Bablu Halder's song is well known regarding the Jalangi river.
Oo Amar Jalangi Nadi,
Tor Kolete Roilam Ami, Janamo Abodhi
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  • Jalangi river in Tehatta
    Jalangi river in Tehatta
  • Beauty of Jalangi River (Pricky Poppy flowers)
    Beauty of Jalangi River (Pricky Poppy flowers)
  • River Jalangi at Krishnanagar
    River Jalangi at Krishnanagar
  • Jalangi River near Mayapur, Nadia
    Jalangi River near Mayapur, Nadia
  • A local bridge on Jalangi river
    A local bridge on Jalangi river
  • Village boats in Jalangi River
    Village boats in Jalangi River

References

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  1. ^ Majumdar, Dr. R.C., History of Ancient Bengal, First published 1971, Reprint 2005, p. 4, Tulshi Prakashani, Kolkata, ISBN 81-89118-01-3.
  2. ^ Bandopadhyay, Dilip Kumar, Bharater Nadi (Rivers of India), 2002, (in Bengali), p. 68, Bharati Book Stall, 6B Ramanath Mazumdar Street, Kolkata
  3. ^ Das, Balai Chandra; Ghosh, Sandipan; Islam, Aznarul; Roy, Suvendu (27 October 2020). Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India. CRC Press. p. 387. ISBN 978-1-000-19457-9.
  4. ^ Das, Balai Chandra; Ghosh, Sandipan; Islam, Aznarul; Roy, Suvendu (27 October 2020). Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India. CRC Press. p. 385. ISBN 978-1-000-19457-9.
  5. ^ a b Das BC and Bhattacharya S (2020). The Jalangi: A Story of Killing of a Dying River. In Das et al. (2020) eds. Anthropogeomorphology of Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System in India. Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN (eBook) 9781003032373. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003032373
  6. ^ a b c Hirst, Major F.C., Director of Surveys, Bengal and Assam, Report on the Nadia Rivers 1915, first published in 1916 by the Bengal Secretariat Book Depot, reproduced in Rivers of Bengal, Vol III, p.27, West Bengal District Gazetteers, Higher Education Department, Government of West Bengal, 2002.
  7. ^ Roy, Niharranjan, Bangalir Itihas, Adi Parba, (in Bengali), first published 1972, reprint 2005, p. 84, Dey's Publishing, 13 Bankim Chatterjee Street, Kolkata, ISBN 81-7079-270-3
  8. ^ Pramanick, Asim. "Rivers wreak havoc". Bengal. The Statesman, 27 August 2005. Retrieved 28 November 2007. [dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Rs. 63 crore to stem erosion in Nadia". Bengal. The Statesman, 11 August 2006. Retrieved 28 November 2007. [dead link‍]
  10. ^ Das, Balai Chandra; Islam, Aznarul; Das, Shrabani; Adhikary, Riya; Sarkar, Rohini (17 October 2024). "Bridge Construction Impacts the Adjacent Channel Morphology and Turbidity: A Study on a Dying Distributary of River Padma". Earth Science, Systems and Society. 4. doi:10.3389/esss.2024.10099. ISSN 2634-730X.
  11. ^ Bandopadhyay, Dilip Kumar, p. 226
  12. ^ "Zibananada Das". Abar Asibo Firey. Fortune City. Archived from the original on 13 October 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2007.

23°24′43″N 88°22′51″E / 23.41194°N 88.38083°E / 23.41194; 88.38083

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