NORTH LAKHIMPUR, June 24 � The flood situation in Lakhimpur district turned grim once again following heavy rains here and in the hills of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh after a lull of two days.
All the big and small rivers of Lakhimpur originate from the hills of Arunachal Pradesh and heavy rains in those areas have been turning the water levels of these rivers to overflow resulting in inundation of a wide area of the district since Tuesday.
According to the district Water Resources Department, all the major rivers of the district have been flowing above the danger levels since Tuesday. The Subansiri was flowing above danger level at Ghancharai, the Dikrong at Sisapatahr RCC bridge, the Singra at RCC bridge on NH-15 and river Kakoi at Kadam.
The worst affected areas of flood this time in Lakhimpur district is Nowboicha revenue circle where flash floods from rivers Ranganadi, Singra and Bokanadi have inundated more than 20 villages belonging to four gaon panchayats. The flood water of river Singra has submerged households, agriculture lands, fisheries and jute plantations in No.1 and No. 2 Gelahati, Gosaneebari, Chengeleejaan, Tokowguri, Rowdung, Borgoyan, Borpatahar, Singra, Ahomanee, Garchiga, Pandhowa, Mohghuli, Borgola, Muslimpur, Sgarpur, Shanti Ashram, Charani villages of this region. The NH-15 Doolahat Bazaar PWD road witnessed overflowing of flood water from Singra river at three different places causing erosion on its pucca surface.
Similarly the flash flood from river Ranganadi and Bokanadi inundated 15 villages of this region including No.1 and No.2 Dejoo Pathar, 107/110 Grant, No.1 and No.2 Panchnoi, Kutukai, Konwarpur, Boloma, Bishnupur, Haripur and Balitika. The fast moving currents of Gabharu river that swept away two households of one Zamina Khatoon and one Zainal Abedine with all their belongings including the seedlings of paddy on Monday in Gormur under Bihpuria revenue circle, inundated villages like Kongari Chuburi, Roman Chuk, Pukhuriya etc marooning thousands of villagers along with their cattle that are devoid of any fodder for many days. The flood water of Gabharu also breached the Baligaon-Dhekiajuli main PWD road in multiple points cutting off more than ten villages in Laluk GP areas.
Meanwhile, the increased level of water of Ranganadi river has threatened the safety of its embankment in North Lakhimpur. The river has so far eroded a considerable portion of its embankment on its left bank from Borbeel to Bogoleejaan. Similarly on its right bank the Ranganadi embankment at Deobeel Bantow and Karkati. The Water Resources Department contractors are accused of not fitting the RCC porcupines meant for erosion protection. Heaps of such porcupines were seen laying unused on that site and so was the slow pace of work of filling the gabion boxes with sand-filled geo bags. Similarly the open portion of the embankment of Dikrong river has threatened the safety of Bihpuria town following heavy rains in the last twenty four hours. The ongoing reconstruction work of Dikrong embankment at the cost of Rs 106 crores has been marked by poor work and departmental complicity has already flooded many places in Bihpuria revenue circle areas since late May this year. The rising level of Dikrong has also threatening the safety of Meneha-Panchali embankment which also connects Bihpuria with Laluk, two important locations in Lakhimpur district. Heavy erosion by Dikrong at Kathalguri-Bali Chapori near Bihpuria has left five families homeless. The affected families are that of Joy Ram Bori and Karn Sharma of Kathalguri and Dharanee Das, Manoranjan Das and Dhirendra Biswas of Bangalmara Grazing Namasudra Bengaligaon. The district Water Resources Department has been blamed by the villagers for putting only some bamboo porcupines for erosion protection on that area. The lack of interest by the concerned departments has also been alleged by villagers affected by the flood and erosion by Sesa river in Lakhimpur district.
