Lakhimpur, June 17: Two welcome arches put up by the Lakhimpur Rongali Bihu Sanmilani a couple of months ago are the only objects left standing on National Highway 52 at this town’s entry point.

Symbols of merrymaking this Bohag Bihu, the arches now stand as grim reminders of the savage fury of the first wave of floods which hit the district two days ago.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi today surveyed the flood situation in the district. Revenue minister Bhumidhar Barman, water resources minister Bharat Narah and PCC president Bhubaneswar Kalita accompanied him.

A long portion of the highway has been submerged and Lakhimpur town — one of the biggest urban centres on the North Bank — has been left to fend for itself.

Flash floods in catchment areas of neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh submerged Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts, breaching dykes at several areas.

The two districts were cut off from the rest of the country after NH 52 was breached, halting traffic.

The people are forced to use country boats to reach their destinations. Even small vehicles are being ferried across the breached portion.

“We are charging Rs 10 per person to ferry them across the damaged stretch,” said Ananta Pegu, in-charge of a country boat. For vehicles, the fare is Rs 50.

District officials said a total of 289 villages and 2.55 lakh people have been affected by the floods, impacting 48,749 hectares. Seven people have lost their lives and crop damage has been estimated at Rs 7.8 lakh. A total of 20,000 persons are in relief camps.