BONGAIGAON, July 29 - Flood-affected villagers in Chirang district entered Bhutan on Wednesday to re-erect bunds on the banks of river Lalai, overflowing waters of which had spread and inundated several villages within the district.
Around 2,000 residents of 32 villages in the district entered the foreign territory on Wednesday from Baghmara-Malibhita border.
The villagers reached Umling at Serpang district in Bhutan, which is around 4 kms from the Indian border at Malibhita in Chirang district.
Local people of Bhutan also extended full cooperation to the Chirang villagers by building bunds with wooden logs and boulders the whole day beside the Lalai river. Three UPP MLCAs, namely Rwngwra Narzary (Kajalgaon), Nirmal Kumar Brahma (Nishima) and Guneswar Goayari (Sobaijhar) led the villagers in this community work.
Since several years now, the Lalai river�s overflowing waters pour into Aie and its tributaries during the flood season and maroons several villages in Chirang district.
Not surprisingly, however, the local administration did not take note of this serious problem. Hence, losing confidence on the goodwill of the BTC administration and the Government, the villagers took this initiative under compulsion in order to save their home and hearths.
