BARPETA, June 18 � The overall flood situation in Barpeta district remained grim for the fifth consecutive day today. Five persons lost their lives in the fury of flood in two separate incidents since yesterday afternoon at Dargahpur near Bhella about eight kilometres from here and Kawaimari 4 No Block under Sarthebari Police Station .With these the death toll in the present wave of flood rose to six in the district.
The first incident took place in Kawaimari 4 No Block yesterday afternoon. According to information provided by Satish Boro, president of Pub Paka Gaon Panchayat, Jyoti Kalita(13) son of Harkanta Kalita a resident of Kawaimari 4 No Block, went to feed fodder to the cattle on a plantain raft yesterday afternoon. But suddenly he lost balance and slipped from it. The strong current of the flood washed him away in no time.
In yet another incident at Dargahpur under Barpeta Police Station, Halida Begum, daughter of Halimuddin, Rejma Begum, wife of Makibul Ali, Rehena Begum, wife of Majmal Ali and her five-year-old daughter Mahmina, all residents of Dargahpur were going to the nearby Santipur village on foot. The road to Santipur was submerged by flood water . Suddenly they fell into a deep ditch in the middle of the road which was created by flood after this portion was washed away by the strong current, about which they were ignorant. All of them were washed away before they could take any safety measures to save themselves.
Villagers soon rescued them and sent them to the Fakharuddin Ali Ahmed Medical College and Hospital at Barpeta where the attending physicians declared them brought dead.
