DIBRUGARH, July 25 - In view of the devastating floods taking a turn for the worse in the district, and due to the fact that the rising water level in the Brahmaputra and its tributaries are flowing above the danger level since yesterday, a meeting of all the line departments was called in the office of the Deputy Commissioner here today to review the disaster preparedness, where officers from the Army and Indian Air Force also attended.
All departments, including the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been directed to be on their toes and to carry out rescue and relief works in all the flood-affected areas. Deputy Commissioner MS Manivannan, who presided over the review meeting directed all the departments to reach out to the affected and also asked them to ensure that the flood victims received all essentials like drinking water, food, medicines etc.
So far, flood waters have already affected about 140 revenue villages within the district. As per the district disaster cell, about 18,783.03 hectares of prime agricultural land have been inundated. An estimated 74,286 people have been affected by the floods in the district. More areas are expected to be affected gradually due to the rising flood waters, which is spreading fast.
The district administration has set up some 51 relief camps where about 4,604 inmates are sheltered. Distribution of relief like rice, dal and salt is also being carried out in the flood-affected areas, said Deepjyoti Hatikakoty, Project Officer, District Disaster Management Cell.
Among the seven revenue circles in the district, Chabua, Naharkatia, Moran, Dibrugarh East and Dibrugarh West revenue circles have been affected the most. The flood waters also destroyed seven houses in Chabua circle, Hatikakoty said.
A major portion of the city here has also come under artificial flood waters yet again. The recurring water-logging has inflicted torment so much so that schoolchildren of Kendriya Vidyalaya here had to stage a road blockade near the Deputy Commissioner�s office to draw the attention of the local administration and the State Government towards their plight.
The Kendriya Vidyalaya, located close to the office of the Deputy Commissioner here, has been reeling under flood waters since the past several days. Artificial flood waters have seeped into the ground floor classrooms. The office of the Deputy Commissioner, as also his official residence in the area is surrounded by flood waters. The residence of the Superintendent of Police too is no exception.
Instead of subsiding, the flood waters within the municipal limits is beginning to rise. The heavy downpour is only adding salt to the wound. As there is no proper sewerage system within the municipality, the continuing torrential rain is likely to inflict more hardships to the population here. Almost all existing roads and bylanes in the city have been submerged due to water-logging. Several homes, Government offices, educational institutions and commercial establishments in the city have come under the flood waters.
Like every other year, the worst affected are the residents of the Police Reserve, Jail Road and Red Cross Road in Graham Bazar, Gangapara, Shantipara, Khania Gaon, Boiragimoth, Padum Nagar, Kalibari, Gandhinagar, Lachitnagar, Vishnunagar, Kadamoni, Khalihamari, Gabharupathar, Milannagar, West Chowkidinghee and JP Nagar. The other areas reeling under artificial floods include Seujpur, Ambari, Lichubari, Dibrujan, Durgabari, PWD Colony, Bagchipara, Bansbari, Amolapatty, Guardpara, Officers Colony, Nirmali Gaon and Chiring Chapori.
