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Misery grips marooned Assam

When the levee breaks: Rivers in spate; ferry services suspended
Last Updated 24 August 2014, 19:16 IST

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday directed the revenue and disaster management department to speed up rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected people on a war footing. 

Gogoi directed Chief Secretary Jitesh Khosla and Additional Chief Secretary (Revenue and Disaster Management) Subhash Chandra Das to take all possible measures in this regard. Gogoi asked the officials to be in constant touch with the administration of flood-hit districts and monitor the supply of gratuity relief, medicine and other items to the flood-hit people.

 He also directed the water resources department to take up immediate anti-erosion measures, especially in the breached embankments. As many as 15 breaches occurred in Dhemaji, Ranganadi in Lakhimpur, Solengi river, Brahmajan river and Sessa river in Sonitpur, Mora Pagladiya in Nalbari and Pahumara river in Barpeta.

All ferry services over the Brahmaputra in upper Assam have been temporarily suspended from Saturday as the mighty river had crossed the danger level in Dibrugarh and Pasighat by 3 pm.

The water level in Dibrugarh guage station had recorded 105.99 cm at 3 pm which is 29 cm above the danger level, according to official sources.

 At Nematighat, it was 86.21 metres. The situation is critical in Larua mouza of Dibrugarh (West) revenue circle, Panbari and Oakland. Large tea estate areas within Dibrugarh (East) revenue circle were inundated on Sunday, disrupting surface communication and forcing the people to move to higher places.

In Oakland Tea Estate, some 204 houses were affected and the families have taken shelter in four separate relief camps within the tea estate. In Panbari, at least 20 families have moved up the embankment.

“The district administration has not turned up yet for any relief to the affected families,” noted Teres Gowala, a leader of the Assam Chah Janagusthi Jatiya Mahasabha.

In Larua mouza, several tracts of paddy fields are submerged and flood water has inundated houses in Majgaon, Kalkhowa, Gojai gaon, Rangagorah and Maina Mishing gaon. Farmland is affected in Dighalia, Sessa Nagaon, Gorudhoria, Metekani, Lezai, Bordoibam, Panimiri gaon, Sakoipathar, Itakhuli and Than gaon.

The water levels of Jiadhal, Kumati, Gainadi, Simen, Dimow, Dhikari and the Subansiri rivers and the tributaries of Brahmaputra in Dhemaji district have risen and the rivers were flowing above danger level since Saturday, reports said. Rescue operation has been launched in Sonarghat area near the Rekhachapori breach site in the district. 

Meanwhile, discharge of Brahmaputra water from Guwahati’s residential areas will be slow than usual in the next five days with heavy rain likely to hinder the natural discharge mechanism, said an official in the Kamrup (metro) district administration here.

 The Met department has predicted heavy rainfall from August 24 to 28 in a 50-km radius from LGBI Airport in Borjhar on the outskirts of the city. Currently, the river in the city is flowing above danger level at 49.28 metres.

As a precautionary measure against the backflow from the Brahmaputra, the main sluice gate on the Bharalu has been closed since August 15. However, this will affect the natural flow of water in all the natural channels of the city.

The water resources department has been continuously discharging accumulated water from residential areas through pumps to minimise the impact.

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(Published 24 August 2014, 19:16 IST)

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