GUWAHATI, July 9 ? The State is experiencing the second wave of floods, as incessant rains have made the shallow rivers in the State inundate many areas, particularly in the lower part of the State. According to reports, situation in many areas is grave. Army have to be deployed to rescue the marooned people at some places, while at some other places they have been alerted. The rivers in spate have already breached their embankments at places while at some other places the floodwaters of the rivers have been surging through the already breached portions of the embankments.
At Charan Jungle under the Tamulpur Revenue Circle of Nalbari district, Army boats were pressed into service today to rescue the marooned people. Floodwaters of the Pagladiya yesterday turned the area into an island. Altogether 65 families were marooned there. However, the Army had failed to rescue the 20 marooned families of Chapatal village in the same district, even by using helicopters. Following this, the civil administration has directed the Dhamdhama Police Station to rescue the marooned families.
According to our Correspondent from Nalbari, relief materials have been airdropped by the administration for the marooned people of Chapatal.
The Sontipur district administration today requisitioned the services of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps to clear the congestion created by silt deposits at the main canal of the Bor-Dikorai irrigational canal at the instance of the Chief Minister. Meanwhile, Chief Minster Tarun Gogoi made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Sonitpur district for an on-the-spot assessment of the flood situation there, said an official press release here this evening.
The congestion was created in the canal by the heavy load of silt on July 5 in the wake of the flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh. The onrush of the floodwaters also breached the canal at 18 places affecting 15 villages having a population of 17,500. The Chief Minister directed the administration to take immediate steps also to ensure speedy relief and rescue operation for the benefit of the affected people. He also issued instructions to the administration to ensure adequate supply of food grains and fodder for the affected people, besides submitting the estimates of the damages caused by the flood to standing crops and property, said the press release.
The Bar-Dikorai flood had claimed seven lives ?three in Assam and four in Arunachal Pradesh, said a report from our Itakhola Correspondent. According to the sources in the Regional Meteorology Office (Met)here, rain occurred at almost all the places over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Meghalaya and at places over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura on July 7,8 and 9.
At places over Arunachal Pradesh, monsoon was active, that is, more than 1.5 to 4 times the normal on July 7 and 8 and today it was vigorous, that is, more than 4 times the normal. At places over Assam and Megahalaya, it has been active during these days, said the Met sources. On the other hand, the Central Water Commission (CWC) sources said here this evening that the Brahmaputra is flowing above the Danger Level (DL) at Dibrugarh, Neamatighat, Tezpur and Dhubri with a rising trend. The mighty river is flowing above the Warning Level (WL) at Guwahati and Goalpara with a similar trend.
The mighty river?s tributaries Dhansiri (South), Kopilli, Puthimari, Pagladiya, Beki, Manas, Sonkosh and Jiabharali are also flowing above the DL at places, while the Burhidihing, the Kuchiara and the Subansiri are flowing above the WL at places. The Kopilli is also flowing above the WL at Dharamtul, said the CWC sources.
According to our Nalbari Correspondent, almost the entire road network of the Nalbari district has been disrupted by floodwaters making the places of the district including its district headquarters inaccessible by road. The floodwaters of the Pagladiya breached its embankment at Moiradaanga and Dhanigog, while some miscreants this morning cut the river?s right embankment near Balilecha causing flood in a vast area comprising over 100 villages and parts of the Nalbari town.
About 70 families of Kaplabari village under Mukalmuwa revenue Circle have been shifted as the Brahmaputra has washed away a huge portion of its right embankment there. This has posed a serious threat to the people of Nalbari and Barpeta districts in this part. Health Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman is visiting the affected areas of the district and assessing the situation. Talking to The Assam Tribune Dr Barman expressed the apprehension that the overall flood situation in the district might have a link with the leakage in the Bhutanese dams upstream of the turbulent rivers of the district. But this apprehension of Dr Barman and a section of the people of the district has been dismissed by the Bhutanese authorities, said our Correspondent.
Our Patacharkuchi Correspondent reports that the flood situation in Bajali sub-division has turned critical since last night. Over 100 villages have been affected by the floodwaters of the Pahumara, Kaldia and Deozara. All major roads of the subdivision, including the NH, are under water and damaged at places by the floodwaters. The inmates of the Pathsala Community Hospital have been shifted to the Dharamsala, which is considered to be a safer place. The district administration of Barpeta has distributed relief materials among the affected people, said the report of our Correspondent.
The flood situation has turned critical in Mangaldoi sub-division too. According to our Sipajhar Correspondent, 41 villages under Patharighat Revenue Circle and 11 villages under Sipajhar Revenue Circle with a population of nearly 3,000, have been affected. At least ten villages have been affected by the floodwaters of the Manas and Aie in Bijni subddivision, said our Bijni Correspondent. Some parts of Bijni town have also been submerged by the floodwaters. The affected people of Goroimari, Monakosha, Jamdoha, Nasankuri and Saktola have been shifted to the safer places and three relief camps have been set up by the authorities to shelter the affected people even as some of the affected people have taken shelter in makeshift arrangements on their own.
Our Ghograpar Correspondent reports that about 20 villages of the Ghograpar Revenue Circle have been submerged by the floodwaters of the Pagladiya. These villages have a population of about 20,000. People of several villages have been taking shelter on the embankments and other high places, while floodwaters today submerged NH-31 affecting road communication, said the report of our Correspondent.
Our Udalguri Correspondent reports that floodwaters of the Golondi, Dhansiri, Bharala and Bikhaitis have affected over 100 families. The strong current of the Golandi has washed away the temporary bridge constructed over it by the Border Road Organisation, said the report. The overall flood situation in Goreswar areas remained grave till date, said Our Goreswar Correspondent.Shrtage of fodder has become a major problem for the farmers of the areas, the report said.