July 11: Four more persons lost their lives in floods and waterlogging as a result of torrential rain in different parts of Assam, where embankments were breached and more villages submerged in Lakhimpur and Majuli districts.
Dhanya Sarkar, 30, a businessman of Kurihar Pam village under Sarthebari revenue circle of Barpeta district, 87km west of Guwahati, was electrocuted at 3.45 this morning after coming in contact with a live wire in front of his house along the bank of the flooded Tihu river. The wire was ripped from the pole by gusty winds last night.
In another incident, one-year-old Inamul Hussain drowned in the flooded Beki river in Balikuri village under Baghbar revenue circle of Barpeta district, about 90km from Guwahati, this morning.
In Dibrugarh district, Om Prakash Sahani, 41, was drowned in the Dibru river under Chabua police station, around 490km east of Guwahati, this morning. Sources said Sahani was crossing the river in a small boat and it capsized. "A State Disaster Response Force team has launched a search operation but the body could not be traced till this evening," the source added.
In Jorhat district, Suresh Tanti, 45, fell in a waterlogged area and died at Meleng Bali Chapori under Hatigarh Mauza today.
With these deaths, the toll in floods, landslides, waterlogging and related electrocution in the state has risen to 42.
Meanwhile, water released from the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation's (Neepco) Ranganadi dam washed away a 50-metre stretch of an embankment at Bogalijan in Lakhimpur district, about 5km from North Lakhimpur town this morning, flooding new areas of Lakhimpur and posing a threat to the North Lakhimpur town.
According to sources, water was released from the Ranganadi dam last evening and submerged a number of villages after breaching the embankment around 5am this morning.
The Ranganadi dam is situated in Arunachal Pradesh with a hydroelectric project producing 405MW power since its commissioning in 2001. The dam is on Ranganadi river, a tributary of the Brahmaputra, about 50km from Ziro in Lower Subansiri district and 150km from Itanagar.
The Paresh Barua-led Ulfa (I) today demanded compensation from Neepco for the affected people.
"The indigenous people of the affected areas have been rendered homeless and are not even getting drinking water. Neepco is responsible for it. We demand compensation for the affected people or it will face dire consequences and will have to leave Assam and Arunachal Pradesh," said a statement from the outfit.
In another embankment breach, about 100 metres of the Malualmalapindha dyke in Majuli district was washed away by floodwaters of the Brahmaputra around 4am today to submerge localities of three panchayats. The situation worsened in lower Majuli with the breach of another embankment at Bogolijan area yesterday.
Assam cultural affairs and sports minister Naba Kumar Doley and Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah visited the site at Dhunaguri-Bali Chapori PWD road at Selek Tiniali in Majuli, which was affected by water from the Subansiri.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel today conducted rescue operations in Lakhimpur and Biswanath districts. Rescuers from NDRF's 1st battalion evacuated 122 marooned villagers in Dihghariya 1 and 2 villages under Bihpuria revenue circle in Lakhimpur and nine others from Dubia village in Gohpur subdivision in Biswanath district.
The commandant of NDRF's 1st battalion, S.K. Sastri, said five rescue teams with 20 boats and life-saving equipment were deployed in Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Barpeta, Cachar and Biswanath districts. The teams are also assisting the district administration in distribution of relief materials. The flood situation in Dhemaji district, one of the worst affected, improved today with the change in weather.
Meanwhile, Dispur released Rs 62 crore for those affected by floods and management of related disasters.
"We have released Rs 62 crore as an initial fund to manage the flood situation in the state. It is a first step and we will release more funds step by step. We have no lack of funds to manage the flood situation," chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal told reporters in Guwahati today.
Sonowal said all deputy commissioners, local MLAs and officials of every districts were directed to visit the flood-hit areas regularly and to take necessary action with immediate effect.
"I have been monitoring the situation. We will ensure that no flood-affected area or people lags behind in receiving treatment and compensation. There is too much rainfall in the state this year, making the situation worse. We are taking all possible steps to save the lives and property of public and I also request all sections of the society to come forward in such a disaster like situation to help us," Sonowal added.
