GUWAHATI, July 22 ? The overall flood situation in the State remained grim today too. The mighty Brahmaputra and five of its major tributaries are still flowing above the danger levels. In the Barak valley, the Barak, the Katakhal and the Kushiyara are also flowing above their respective danger levels. Today was the 29th day since the State was hit by the second wave of the floods this year.The flood related death toll in the state has gone up to 101 with reports of four more fatalities received today.
Meanwhile, according to an official press release here this evening, the State administration has ordered suspension of all vehicular traffic between Jagiroad and Bebejia on the NH -37, with immediate effect. This has been done as a sequel to the overtopping and submergence of the National Highway by the floodwaters of the Killing, Kopilli and Kolong between Deosal and Nellie and between Dighaliati and Phulaguri, said the press release.
According to the Central Water Commission (CWC) sources here this evening, at 3 pm today, the Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger level (DL) at Dibrugarh (0.64 metres), Neamatighat (0.29 metres), Tezpur (0.32 metres), Guwahati (1.65 metres), Goalpara (1.05 metres) and Dhubri (1.30 metres). Its tributaries, which were flowing above the DL at that time, included the Burhidihing (0.93 metres at Khowang), Dhansiri South (0.90 metres at Numaligarh), Subansiri (0.26 metres at Badatighat), Kopilli (1.04 metres at Kampur) and Sonkosh (0.23 metres at Golokganj). The Barak was flowing above the DL (1.74 metres at Silchar Annapurnaghat) along with the Katakhal (2.14 metres at Matijuri) and the Kushiyara (1.21 metres at Karimganj) during the above time, said the CWC sources.
However, the mighty river, which set a new record of its high flood level in the city by flowing at 1.70 metres above the DL this morning, was maintaining a falling trend at Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Guwahati and Goalpara at 3 pm. It was maintaining a steady trend at Neamatighat and Dhubri at that time. The Burhidihing, the Dhansiri South, the Subansiri, the Kopilli and the Katakhal were also maintaining falling trend at that time, while the Sonkosh, the Barak and the Kushiyara were maintaining steady trend, said the CWC sources.
According to the Meteorology office (Met) sources here this evening, the State received four per cent excess rainfall in the week ending on July 7, while there was 37 per cent excess rainfall in Meghalaya and 22 per cent excess rainfall in Nagaland during that week. The next week ending on July 14, saw Arunachal receiving an excess rainfall of 156 percent, Assam an excess rainfall of 108 per cent, Meghalaya an excess rainfall of 18 per cent and Mizoram an excess rainfall of six percent.
Arunachal received an excess rainfall of 114 per cent during the week ending on July 22. During this week Assam received an excess rainfall of 84 per cent, Manipur received an excess rainfall of 90 per cent, Meghalaya received an excess rainfall of 164 per cent and Mizoram received an excess rainfall of 248 per cent. In the week ending on July 14, rainfall in Arunachal and Assam was more than double of the normal, while in the week ending on July 21, all states of the NE region, except Nagaland, had received excess rainfall almost double of the normal, said the Met sources.
The rainfall during these two weeks led to the severity of flood in the State with one peak level of the flood occurring between July 12 and 14 and the other, between July 19 and July 22. Preceding the above two peak levels, there was however, one more peak level of the flood with a comparatively lower magnitude between June 24 and 26, said the Met sources. The overall flood situation in Kamrup district still remains grim. One Ritumani Goswami (19) of Nadiya village died when a country boat carrying seven persons capsized last evening in Ramdiya village under Hajo circle. Her body was recovered today. With this, the death toll in Kamrup district has gone up to eight during this wave of flood. In the district, 13.41 lakh people of 639 villages were affected during this wave of flood, about 186 of these villages are completely submerged, said an official release here this evening.
Meanwhile, reports from various places suggest that taking advantage of the situation arising out of the flood havoc, unscrupulous traders are trying their level best to fleece the common people by creating an artificial scarcity of the essential items. As a result, the common buyers are made to pay by the nose. Some residents of the flood-affected Barak valley town of Silchar complained today that onions were selling in the town at Rs 80 per Kg and potato, Rs 25 a Kg, while chicken was selling at Rs 70 a Kg. It is worth mentioning here that no road in the town is spared by the floodwaters.
Meanwhile, Army helicopters are airdropping food items at the worst flood-hit areas of Udarband, Duarbandh, Banskandi and Salchapra etc in Cachar district. A high level team of Railway officers today visited the site of the affected railway tracks of Lumding division of NF Railway, said an official release here today. Meanwhile, there is no change in the situation of the flood-affected sites between Guwahati and Lumding. Trains coming from different places towards Tinsukia and Dibrugarh are being terminated at Guwahati.
Our Correspondents report:
Sipajhar: The overall flood situation in the entire Sipajhar Revenue Circle remained grim today also. So far three persons including two minors -Asad Ali (5), Banaz Ali (15) and Mahirun Nessa (50) were reported drowned in the floodwaters at Kirakar under the Sipajhar Revenue Circle.
About six kilometres of the NH-52, between Ssipajhar Motor Station and Khandajan, is still under floodwaters affecting surface communication through this road. Floodwaters have still been posing a grave threat to the R K Embankment at Kacharijhar. Local people are very sore with the E&D for its lack of concern for protection of this important embankment. People of more than 100 villages of the Revenue Circle are affected by the current wave of the floods.
Sualkuchi: Bangsar-Singhimari state highway was overtopped this afternoon at Gandhmow where the road is under ten feet deep water. Communication has been snapped with Guwahati.
Azara: Over 50 villages in South Kamrup have been severely hit by floods as a result of the Brahmaputra washing away about 500 mts of its ring bundh at Futuri-Simina yesterday. Over 50,000 people have been affected following this development. Floodwaters are also entering Chaygaon areas, while parts of Palasbari and Garigaon in the vicinity of Guwahati city are also inundated by the Brahmaputra waters.
Jagiroad: The flood waters of Kollong, Kopili and Killing have submerged many areas in Mayong circle while due to the inundation caused by these three rivers of NH 37, road communication between the lower and upper parts of the state on the south bank remains snapped for the third consecutive day today.
Goalpara: The overall flood situation in the district is still critical. A vast area of Goalpara town is still under floodwaters. Hundreds of vehicles are stranded in Goalpara town and on NH 37 because of the flood situation. There is a report of acute shortage of medical personnel, disinfectants and fodder in the district.
Pathsala: The current wave of floods has severely affected the villages of Nityananda area that is still under floodwaters of Kaldiya River.