BARPETA, July 3 - Though the water level of most of the rivers flowing through Barpeta district receded today and flood has subsided to a considerable extent, still it remains critical in some areas. Thousands of people living in more than 50 villages in the district are languishing under water for six days now.
Villages like Niz Barala, Fingua Pathar, Hatirtary, Golibandha, Kirkira, Nalitpathar, Pithadigaon, Jalkara, Thrkar Pathar, Pithadipam, Helachatpam, Earagaon, Erartary, Bheragaon, Era Kacharigaon, Nrwlarbhitha, Bamumdi, Nasatra, Kuriharpam, Fulbari, Jabrikuchi, Kaskuripam, Kaskuri Pathar, Kaskuri Gaon, Maripur, Kayakuchi Pathar, Gumirpathar, Teleria, Kapartari, Thekagaon, Panimarcha Gaon, Panimaricha Pathar, Marichapathar, Chagalchari, Niz Saldah, Amdah Pathar, Amdah Gaon, Hathinapur, Kayakuchi Gaon, Kayakuchi Pam, Naligaon, Nalirpam, Kalatali Pathar, Batia, Parahkuchi Gaon, Parahkuchi Pam, Khaira, Bamunpaka and Satra Paka under Sarthebari Revenue Circle of the district have been severely affected by the devastating floods of Burhadia, Tihu and Kaldia.
Most of the villages inundated by flood are still under water and there is no hope of respite within a day or two. Thousand of hectares of cropland have been submerged and paddy seedlings have been washed away.
Villagers of Kalatali Pathar and Batia are marooned under water as the embankment of Burhadia and the road connecting Tihu Lachima road and Dr Jinaram Road through Kalatali and Batia has been washed away by the strong current of Burhadia at several places.
About 25,000 cattle and an equal number of poultry have suffered severely due to the long period of flood as there is no grassland at all in the submerged areas.
The situation in the affected areas is likely to get aggravated in the coming days as there is no embankment in a vast area in the eastern part of the district. Burhadia, Tihu and Kaldia have broken their embankments in several parts on their course and there is little hope of these getting repaired shortly.
Interestingly, Tihu and Burhadia rivers which have caused recurring floods every year affecting scores of villages, are yet to get a place in the map of Water Resource Department of the State. For reasons, best known to the people at the helm of affairs, these two rivers are missing from the working sheets of the mighty department responsible for controlling flood and erosion. It is hoped that the government will look into the -issue and take some steps to relieve the people of the district especially those belonging to Paka mouza before they are forced to turn nomadic due to the onslaught.
