TINSUKIA, Sept 21 � With the rising trend of the water levels of the rivers including Brahmaputra the flood situation has worsened in Tinsukia district today. Already 75 per cent of the worst affected Sadiya subdivision is under water. Altogether 55 villages have been inundated by the flood water of river Kundil affecting about 40 thousand people.
About 6,000 people are taking shelter in 30 relief camps, but thousands of others are stranded in the affected areas. In the meantime, 40 personnel of National Disaster Reserve Force (NDRF) have been pressed into service alongwith the Army for rescuing the people. On the other hand, due to want of sufficient machine boats, rescue and relief operations have become difficult in the subdivision. Due to the adverse weather, helicopter services too could not be put into service in the remote areas like Amarpur etc till the filing of this report.
The condition of the Doomdooma revenue circle too became critical today. The number of affected villages has increased to 57 with nearly 60 thousands affecting Dhola, Talap, Dangari, Laopati, Dighaltarang, Barekuri, etc. Ten relief camps have been set up and about 6,000 people are taking shelter in these camps. Yet, many people have been stranded in marooned areas. The Army has been pressed into service mostly for rescuing villagers of the affected areas.
It may be mentioned that yesterday, two boys namely Raj Kishor Choudhury, 19, son of Late Bachalal Choudhury, and Dilip Mallah, 21, son of Dwarika Mallah of Dhola Bazar, drowned when the small boat they alongwith five others were riding was washed away by strong currents of the water. However, the other five could be saved.
The rising waters of the Brahmaputra and Dibru rivers have completely inundated the Dibru Saikhowa National Park and two forest villages namely Laaika and Dodhia. In the Guijan area under the Tinsukia revenue circle, the water level increased further. About 2,500 people are taking shelter in the 10 relief camps set up for the affected people of 15 villages of the revenue circle like Erasuti, Garamjan, Natun Gaon, etc. In the meantime, seven National Disaster Reserve Force personnel were engaged in the rescue operations.
Correspondents from other areas report:
NALBARI: The flood situation in Nalbari district today turned critical with the waters of Mara Pagladia river submerging more than 12 villages under Barama and Tihu revenue circles.
Over 10,000 flood-affected people of Barjhar, Dipta, Suradi, Da-kaunia, Nambarbhag, Alagjhar, among others, have been taking shelter at safer places. The district administration, however, is yet to open any relief camp so far.
The floods flowing down from the Bhutan hills have caused extensive damage in both the revenue circles of the district.
TEOK: Several villages at Jhanjimukh under Teok revenue circle in Jorhat district have been submerged by floodwaters of the Jhanji and the Brahmaputra rivers which are rising above the danger level.
The circle officer of the Teok revenue circle said that around 15 villages have been reeling under the floods. He said four boats have been pressed into service to take the affected to a safer place, which he himself is physically monitoring. There has been no report of casualty so far, he added.
RANGIYA: With waters flowing through the Puthimari river embankments which were breached during the last floods, most areas of the Rangiya subdivision have been submerged. The river current has since changed its course and has been flowing violently over the NH 31 at Bangalikuchi here since last night. Subsequently, vehicular communication on the NH has also come to a halt.
As per reports, there has been a breach in the Nona riverbank, which has eventually worsened the flood havoc in Rangiya thereby submerging areas like Batahkuchi, Halikuchi, Balistra, Dimu, Baranghati, Kaniha, Bahrghat and various other places of Hajo revenue circle.
The situation has added to the woes of the people of the greater subdivision as the authority concerned has not initiated timely steps to repair the damage caused during the last floods. With flash floods occurring here since last night, hectares of agricultural land and crops were damaged, besides the loss of other valuable properties.
Meanwhile, the district administration has been urged to initiate steps for early rehabilitation measures.
