GUWAHATI, July 20 ? The overall flood situation in the State remains grim and the death toll ? including those killed in landslides ? has gone up to 88, while nearly 600 animals of Kaziranga, Manas and Orang National Parks have been drowned. According to the memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by the State Government today, the current wave of floods has affected more than 88.75 lakh people, of whom 16.44 lakh are still living in relief camps. Floodwaters have breached embankments in as many as 109 places and more than 3.13 lakh houses have been completely damaged. Altogether 26 of the 27 districts of the State are in the grip of floods.
Meanwhile, an NF Railway press release here said this evening that train services between Lumding and Chaparmukh have been affected due to the floodwaters submerging the railway tracks. This resulted in suspension of several trains and the NF Railway has either cancelled or regulated eight passenger trains. Between Hojai, Lumding and Tinsukia, the NFR has arranged for special passenger trains.
Our Correspondents report:
Azara: Severe erosion on the Palasbari-Gumi embankment and on several ring-bunds along the Brahmaputra is posing a grave threat to the people in more than a hundred villages under Palasbari revenue circle. The people of Simina, Futuri, Satrapara, Sulikata, Makadhuj, Kendurtal, Bortori, Sapathori, and Dholipar have been rendered homeless. Though the Water Resource Department constructed a retirement ring-bund to check erosion, it has failed to serve the purpose. If the erosion continues and the water level of the Brahmaputra rises, the entire south Kamrup area would be inundated. The local people have alleged that the administration has failed to provide relief materials to the erosion-hit people who have now taken shelter at relief camps. The rising water of the Kalahi river has also inundated several villages in Chaygaon area. The erosion of the ring bunds at Dharapur, Mazirgaon on the bank of the Brahmaputra is also continuing causing serious threat to the LGBI Airport and other nearby areas.
Sipajhar: The situation at Sipajhar has turned extremely critical again, with the water of the Brahmaputra rushing into the greater Sipajhar area since morning, especially through the breached Sanoa embankment. Disruption in power, telephone, etc., has compounded the situation.
Morigaon: Floods have assumed alarming proportions in Morigaon district with floodwaters submerging the NH-37 at Dharamtul, Nellie and Palasbari. The Morigaon-Jagiroad also lies under waist-deep water at Bhakatgaon, Kumoi, Boghora and Oujari. Meanwhile, Morigaon town is also in the grip of unprecedented flood with the offices of the DC, SP, telephone exchange, DRDA, GKB College, and the Khirode Baruah Stadium lying under water. The official death toll has gone up to six, while unofficially it is 10.
Nalbari: A CISF inspector, MM Dinkar, was drowned in the Pagladiya river when a CISF team was engaged in flood-relief operations in the area. The boat capsized at Dhontola village, three km from Nalbari around noon today. His body has not been recovered till filing of this report. Meanwhile, road communication on the NH-37 is likely to be restored tomorrow with the formal opening of the Bailey bridge constructed by Army engineers. The Pagladiya river with its rising waters has continued to threaten a large number of areas in the district.
Majuli: A portion of the Majuli Road measuring about 150 metres was washed away by the surging waters of the Brahmaputra yesterday afternoon. The floodwaters have inundated a vast area of the island subdivision including its headquarters at Garamur. For the past two days, due to suspension of ferry services on the Brahmaputra the island is delinked from the rest of the mainland. There has been an acute scarcity of essential items in the island. Affected people of many areas have alleged non-receipt of relief materials. About one lakh people of the island have been affected by the current wave of floods.
Itakhola: Due to incessant rains in the last 48 hours, water of the Jiabhoroli is flowing over the danger mark, which has created apprehension among the people of Chamdhara, Ghahigaon, Mornakuri, Chenichuk, Dekachuk, etc., villages. Rains have also created floods at Jamugurihat and submerged theNH-52 at Dekasundar.
Duni: Over 50 villages of Dipila, Duni and Pathorighat areas under Sipajhar LAC have again been inundated by floodwater of the Nonoi river. Hatimara, Dogiapara, Lothapara, Ahini, Bagakala, Khatara, Bhakatpara, and some neighbouring villages have been badly affected.
Nagaon: The flood situation in Nagaon district remains grim with reports of new areas being submerged coming in. Embankments of the Kopili, Kolong and Killing have been breached at many places. In the meantime, the administration has sounded the red alert in several places of the district. Rising waters of the Kolong have also threatened parts of Nagaon town. Reports of leakage at Hatimura have caused panic among the residents of the town. Communication at the NH-37 has also been disrupted.
Mangaldoi: Till Tuesday evening floodwater inundated Bardolguri, Hazarikapara, Sipajhar, etc areas. Floods have also ravaged char-chapori areas in Mangaldoi with the river Mangaldoi overflowing its banks. Relief measures by the Government and private organisations are going on in full swing. Members of AASU?s Darrang unit are engaged in distribution of food and fodder among the affected people.
Hojai: The flood situation in Hojai subdivision remained unchanged for the second day as the water of the Kapili is rising in an alarming way. More than two lakh people have been affected, many of whom have become marooned. Rescue operations are going on with country boats, Army boats and two Air Force helicopters pressed into service. The SDO (Civil) Hojai, told The Assam Tribune that foodstuff would be airdropped to the marooned people tomorrow. So far one hundred relief camps in Hojai subdivision are in operation. Train service between Lumding and Guwahati remained disrupted for the second day because of floodwater flowing over the railway tracks between Jogijan and Jamunamukh stations.
Goreswar: A fresh wave of flood from the Puthimari, Gosaimora and Sukla rivers has made the flood situation in and around Goreswar revenue circle more critical. Altogether 20 new villages have been affected.
Meanwhile, the upper Assam districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Tinsukia also continue to reel under floods. The breach of the Kerang Chapori dyke has made the Dhemaji situation more critical. Over 400 villages of the district lie submerged. In Dhakuakhana subdivision of Lakhimpur district where the situation has been very grave, the Army has been pressed into service. In Sivasagar district, 80 villages with a population of over 53,000 have been badly affected, with the Brahmaputra still flowing above the danger mark. In Tinsukia district, though the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are receding, road communication in many areas like Guijan, Makum, Saikhowa, Sadiya, etc., stands snapped.