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NE part of Barpeta district submerged

By Correspondent

BARPETA, June 29 - The overall flood situation in Barpeta district worsened today as more villages got submerged in the last 24 hours. The number of affected villages has crossed 400 and an estimated population of about three lakh people have been hit. The water level of Kaldia, Burhadia and Tihu have risen alarmingly in the last two days and has flown out through broken embankments and dykes. The entire north-eastern part of the district is under water and almost all the villages barring a few have got submerged.

Heavy downpour along with water from Kurichchu Hydroelectric Plant in Bhutan have fuelled the rivers flowing along the district and have been devastating one village after another in the district.

The historic Jagannath Temple at Sarthebari, Madhabdeva Satra at Gomura, Bapujee College, Nabajyoti High School, Sarthebari Adarsha Uccha Vidyalaya, Sarthebari Higher Secondary School, Sarukshetri CHC and the APDCL power distribution centre at Sarthebari are under water. Though the increase of water was steady till June 27 morning, it picked up unprecedented pace since that evening, inundating a number of villages afresh during the last two days.

Communication has been disrupted in most parts of the district as a number of roads have either been inundated or washed away. The Sarthebari-Nagaon-Barpeta road, has got submerged in several places between Rauli and Nagaon disrupting communication. The Sarthebari-Jabrikuchi road, Sarthebari-Bamundi road, Neularbhitha-Bhaktardaba road, Naligaon-Kayakuchi road, Naligaon-Chaparbari road and Dr Jinaram road have been submerged. Strong currents in several places at Dr Jinaram road, Nasatra-Bamundi road and Neularbhitha-Bhaktardaba road has threatened their existence. Besides, long stretches of the Nasatra-Belbari road have also been submerged. The Tihu-Lachima road has been under water for the last five days.

The Patacharkuchi-Nityananda road has been eroded at Bisankuchi and has got submerged at Kuruwa. An agricultural bundh of Tihu river has got damaged near the Janapriya High School threatening the existence of a number of villages under Kawaimari Reserve and its nearby areas. Besides, 24 other important roads of the district including Milijuli Bazar-Elengi road, Pahumara-Temura road, Paschim Deoldi-Khandakarpara road have been submerged.

Hundreds of residences at Kuriha, Kuriharpam, Bamundi, Erartary, Parahkuchi, Kalatali, Gomura, Karakuchi, Bogchara, Bangaon, Bargandubi, Lachima, Barshala, Bengapara, Lachima, Nasatra, Baghmara, Rauli, Garartary, Singra, Jashodarpam etc., have been inundated. Residences of several areas of Sarthebari town have also got submerged.

The Pahumara, Rupahi and Palla rivers have also hit several villages under Bajali and Sarupeta circle area of the district. The Kaljhar-Guagacha road has been submerged at Sukmanah by flood water of Palla river.

With no sign of improvement, it is ominous that the remaining parts of the district will get submerged as most of the rivers are flowing above their danger mark. The Brahmaputra is flowing 1.16 metres above the danger mark and is rising. The Manas, Kaldia and Pahumara are flowing more than one metre above the danger mark till filing of this report.

Though some of the villages are languishing amidst flood for the last five to six days, the villagers alleged that no responsible officer or public representative has visited their area so far. Besides, they have not been provided any relief material. They demanded provision of at least fodder to maintain their pets. The distribution of relief materials by the district administration is limited to a few villages under Bajali and Barpeta circles only.

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