The Hindu : National : Flood situation in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh turns critical

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Sunday, Jul 29, 2007
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Flood situation in Assam, Arunachal Pradesh turns critical

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh turned critical on Saturday with fresh breaches occurring in dykes of various rivers in the two States. Torrential downpour over the past few days has disrupted surface communication and rendered thousands of people homeless.

According to reports of the Middle Brahmpautra Division of the Central Water Commission all rivers in Assam except Buridehing at Dibrugarh, Dikhow at Sivasagar, Dhansiri at Golaghat, Manas at Barpeta, Barak at Cachar and Katakhal at Hailakandi are flowing above the danger level. The rivers Buridehing at Naharkatia, Dibrugarh, Desang at Nanglamuragat, Sivasagar and Jia Bharali in Sonitpur are flowing within the 0.5 meters of its highest flood level.

In neighbouring Arunchal Pradesh thousands of people have been awaiting evacuation in the two worst-hit districts of Lohit and Anjaw, which have remained cut off for the past one week.

In Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh an Army bailey bridge was washed away at Danglat by surging flood waters of the Sukhanala while thousands of people have been affected in different circles of the district due to havoc caused by flood waters of the Noadihing.

The official flood bulletin issued by the Revenue Department, Assam said that over 10 lakh people of 1,202 villages in 13 districts have been affected by heavy floods caused by the river Brahmaputra and its tributaries. The floods in the State have so far claimed two lives and affected a total area of 72,979 hectares and destroyed standing crop on 25,715 hectares. Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Barpeta, Kamrup, Bongaigaon and Nalbari districts were the worst affected. In lower Assam’s Kamrup district, the flood situation turned critical with the river Puthimari breaching an embankment at Hahara village under Kamalpur circle on Thursday night affecting seven villages of Kamalpur circle and 12 villages of Rangiya circle. Floodwater through the breach also submerged National Highway No. 31 at Maranjana.

Following continuous downpour, Tezu township and the adjoining villages of Lohit district in Arunchal Pradesh are now facing water scarcity.

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