DIBRUGARH, June 11 � The unprecedented rainfall during the last few days has left the fertile paddy fields in Garudharia, Lezai and Kalakhowa Gaon Panchayats within Borborooah revenue circle under water, destroying standing crops. The surging waters from the Sessa river has seeped into vast areas of the agricultural fields.
People in Lezai-Kalakhowa area by and large are farmers and agriculture is the only means of livelihood for them. Several people had taken up the ahu paddy cultivation and were about to harvest. The surging waters, however, have covered large tracts of the paddy fields in the area. Ahu paddy is sowed around the month of February-March so as to harvest during the summer.
Gaonburah of 2 Gorudharia Lat, Pradip Dekhingia told The Assam Tribune that standing crops had already come under waters and farmers in the area are worried and depressed. �Although the floodwaters have not entered the living houses like earlier years, the rising water from the Sessa river is gradually spreading in the area,� he said.
It needs to be mentioned here that the three gaon panchayats are flood-prone areas, frequently tormented by the overflowing of the Sessa river. The area normally experiences flood towards the end of summer.
There are around 50 villages under three different gaon panchayats, which suffer due to recurring floods every year. The area is also often tormented by marauding herds of elephants during the winter as they destroy crops more than they can swallow.
