NORTH LAKHIMPUR, Aug 17 - The recent flood and uabated erosion by major rivers have wreaked havoc on the infrastructure in the rural parts of Lakhimpur district. The unprecedented flood caused by Ranganadi, Subansiri and Dikrong rivers has destroyed many roads and bridges connecting hundreds of villages with various places within the district.
As the floodwaters are receding, the villagers are now trying to meet the challenge posed by the disruption in communication. The Aamtola-Garchiga-Narayanpur PWD Road was completely washed away at Aamtola village under the Telahee Gaon Panchayat in North Lakhimpur Revenue Circle following the breach on the right-hand side embankment at Jainpur on July 9. The flood destroyed the road near the Aamtola weekly bazaar, washing away an RCC bridge and snapping communication with a number of villages under North Lakhimpur, Nowboicha, Bihpuria and Narayanpur Revenue Circles.
On the riverine areas of Lohit-Khabolu, which connects to Majuli and Jorhat, the entire rural surface communication has been destroyed by flood and erosion caused by the Subansiri river. Altogether seven roads have been destroyed in the area, said a member of the Vigilance and Monitoring Committee of Telahee Block. This has disrupted road communication between the Lohit ferry ghat and seven other rural areas like Tamol-Ghuli, Balijan, Kambunggaon, Kulamowa, Nagargaon, etc.
Similarly, floodwaters of the Champora river on the Ghilamora-Dhakuwakhona PWD Road have left a trail of destruction since last month. The road, which diverges from the NH-15 at Gogamukh to Dhakuwakhona, was reconstructed after a long period of neglect. But the incomplete works on a 200-metre stretch near the Champora bridge at Ghilamora proved to be a hurdle in transportation during the current monsoon as the overflowing waters inundated the road for several days. This further damaged the road, making it impossible for all kinds of transport to make way to Dhakuwakhona, Majuli and other interior places of the district. As a result, people have been forced to take a long detour through Bardoloni in Dhemaji district to reach the subdivisional headquarters, Dhakuwakhona, from North Lakhimpur.
According to the Lakhimpur district administration, the current flood has destroyed 64 rural roads and 41 State roads in the district till date. There are also official reports of damage of 182 roads constructed by the DRDA and 29 breaches on the roads, including one on the NH-15 in Lakhimpur district, in the flood so far.
