GUWAHATI, July 9 ? More than 2.26 lakh people of seven districts of the State have so far been affected in the first wave of floods this year, which started on June 21, an official release said. The release said that as many as 269 villages of the districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Darrang, Goalpara, Nalbari and Kamrup have been attached by the floods so far this year. The total area affected is 15,618 hectares, of which 13,449 hectares are crop land. The worst hit Dhemaji district remained cut off from the rest of the State for the seventh day today. The road link to Dhemaji was snapped on July 2 when a portion of the National Highway 52 at Samarajan was washed away by the flood waters of Jiadhal river, while the rail link was snapped much earlier.
The release revealed that the water level of the river Brahmaputra is rising in Goalpara district. Floods caused extensive damages to the roads and brides in the district and a large number of wooden bridges and RCC culverts have been damaged. The road communication in the district was disrupted at several places. The release said that relief materials have been provided to the flood-affected people of Balijana, Matia and Lakhipur circles. The official release said that 14,000 people of 35 villages were affected by floods in Darrang district. However, the overall flood situation in the district is improving, the release added.
Dhemaji Correspondent adds : Dhemaji district of Assam and Along and Pashighat districts of Arunachal Pradesh were totally cut off from the rest of the country after an wooden bridge constructed by the State Public Works Department (NH) was washed away by the flood waters at Samarajan today. Talking to The Assam Tribune B R Samal, Deputy Commissioner, Dhemaji said a magisterial enquiry has been ordered to find out whether the bridge was properly designed and whether the work was carried out properly by the contractor. However, no casualty have been reported so far. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has been engaged to connect Dhemaji and Arunachal Pradesh with other parts of the country, the Deputy Commissioner said.
Udalguri Correspondent adds : About a 10-km area under Udalguri Town Committee from Manpur in the east to Udalguri College in the south was inundated as the swelling Golondi river overtopped the embankment last night. About 500 families have been affected even as Udalguri SDO (C) is making arrangements for tackling the unprecedented situation.