The Hindu : Front Page : Flash floods toll 52

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 10, 2004

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Front Page

Flash floods toll 52

By Sushanta Talukdar

Three-year-old Giti takes lunch from her mother at the Dheranpara relief camp for flood victims in the heart of Guwahati on Saturday. — Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

GUWAHATI, OCT. 9. Unprecedented flash floods in lower Assam's Goalpara district have claimed as many as 52 lives and rendered over 1,85,000 people of 172 villages homeless since yesterday. Many were still reported missing, official sources said.

Floodwaters washed away two RCC bridges and breached approach roads to three bridges. The Army was called in to assist the district administration in the rescue operations. So far 17 marooned persons have been rescued by Indian Air Force helicopters.

The Additional Deputy Commissioner, A.K. Mazumdar told The Hindu over phone that due to strong currents, the rescue operations could not be carried out in some areas. ``Even engine boats could not be operated to reach out to [the] marooned people,'' he said.

The flash floods were caused by the rivers Jinjiram, Krishnai, Dudhnoi due to torrential rains in neighbouring Garo Hills of Meghalaya and in the district for the past three days. The floodwaters also submerged National Highway no 37 snapping communication.

``Initially we were having great difficulty in coping up with the situation as nobody was expecting a situation of this magnitude. However, as the water has receded rescue and relief teams have fanned out to affected areas and are working on war footing. The death toll may increase as some of the teams could not be contacted due to disruption in telecommunication,'' he added.

Meanwhile the flood situation in Guwahati improved today but residents of many localities could not return to their houses as these areas were still reeling under water. The Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, said that over 7000 people have taken shelter in 17 relief camps opened by district administration in different parts of the city. Heavy downpour caused massive landslips in the city's hilly areas claiming 17 lives and injured 11 others since Thursday. The Army was called out to evacuate the residents of some localities.

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