Damodar river

In 1789 an agreement was signed between Maharaja Kirti Chand of Burdwan and the East India Company wherein the Maharaja was asked to pay an additional amount of Rs. 1,93,721 for the construction and maintenance of embankment to prevent floods. However, these ran into dispute and in 1866 and 1873, The Bengal Embankment Act was passed, transferring the powers to build and maintain embankment to the government.

So great was the deavstation every year that the floods passed into folklore, as the following Bhadu (popular folklore in the region) song testifies:

asara maasey chaas koirechhi

anbo bhadu bhadore.

damudare baan dekkechhe

kheya lau nai chole.

hei damudar pae pori

tuchka tumi baan kamao.

bachhor pore bhadu asbek

lau bukey bhaste dao.

We have sown the crops in Asar

We will bring Bhadu in Bhadra.

Floods have swollen the Damodar

The sailing boats cannot sail.

O Damodar! We fall at your feet

Reduce the floods a little.

Bhadu will come a year later

Let the boats sail on your surface.