BARPETA, June 17 � A minor girl lost her life in the current wave of flood which wrought havoc in Barpeta district for the fourth consecutive day today and the number of affected people has been increasing day by day with reports of inundation of new areas.
According to official sources 184 villages with an estimated population of 2.31 lakh under Sarthebari, Barpeta, Bajali, Sarupeta, and Baghbar circles have been badly affected. But the actual suffering populace will exceed the available figure as the interior areas are yet to be assessed.
Nine-year-old Barnali Das and three others were washed away by the strong current of floodwater this noon at Nagaon about 13 kilometres from here. However, the villagers could rescue the other three. Barnali�s body was yet to be recovered till filing of this report.
Most of the tributaries of the Brahmaputra showed a rising trend. Road communication in most parts of the district has remained paralysed due to the heavy flood for the last four days. The Tihu-Lachima Road connecting Bahari with Tihu, Dr Jinaram Road connecting Sarthebari with Pathshala, Sarthebari-Bamundi Road, Sarthebari-Newlarbhitha Road, Bhaktardaba-Kayakuchi Road, Naligaon-Chaporbari Dhumarkur Road and Barsimla-Rajakhat Road are still under several feet of water. Besides, almost all the access roads in the eastern and northern parts of the district are either submerged or washed away by the strong current of the floodwaters.
Meanwhile, mid-term assessment of the high schools scheduled to be held from June 25 may have to be rescheduled if such a situation persists for another few days. �We have faced serious problems regarding the examination. Some schools like BKP Anchalik High School are not in a position to hold examination,� said an officer-bearer of the examination board. BKP Anchalik High School has turned into an island as the road connecting it has been washed away by the Burhadia river both in the east and the west. Burhadiya has completely devastated the entire Kalatali village under Sarthebari circle.
Our Nalbari Correspondent adds: The overall flood situation in Nalbari district remained grim today. Altogether 36 villages under Tihu and Paschim Nalbari revenue circles have been affected due to the flood waters of Mora Pagladia, Buhradia, Kaldia and Tihu rivers.
According to official sources about 15,000 people have been badly affected and some of them have taken shelter at four relief camps set up at Lokhoupur, Gandhibari and Kendubari.
The body of a 60-year-old woman Purama Deka of Paschim Nannatari village who was washed away by floodwaters yesterday was recovered today.
