“…In southern West Bengal, Bankura district, mostly northern and western Bankura belt (including Sonamukhi, Bishnupur, Joypur, Motgora, Taldangra and Sarenga blocks) are one of the most vulnerable zones for HEC (Chakraborty and Mondal, 2013;Panja and Mistri, 2018). In Purulia district the worst affected areas are Jhalda, Kotshila, Matha, Baghmundi and Ajodhya Ranges, whereas, in Midnapore division, Salboni, Gadra, Vatomore, Kalsibhanga, Murakata, Gramal, Chandra, Peechak, Buripala, in the Kharagpur division Chandrakona, Mahespur, Vagabantapur, Vairabpur, Panchhora, Chalogoriand in Rupnarayan division Garhbeta, Raskunda, Mayrakata, Fulberia, Goaltore, Kharikasuli, Bankadaha face the same issue.…”