Dhemaji, July 14: Villagers today blocked the entry of Assam water resources minister Keshav Mahanta in flooded Selek village in Majuli district of Upper Assam.
Mahanta reached Majuli late last evening and was briefed about the flood situation by deputy commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha, who is monitoring relief and rehabilitation work, last night.
The minister today visited the relief camps at Kamalabari and Moharichuk. He then went to Selek village at 11am when the flood-affected villagers blocked his entry with bamboo sticks. An embankment in the village was breached by floodwaters on Tuesday.
The villagers wanted to know why chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who is the local MLA, did not visit Selek at all though he had visited Garmur, the district headquarters of Majuli.
They, however, allowed the team, led by Mahanta, to reach the spot and take stock of the situation. However, when he was coming back, women blocked the road, but the police intervened and arrested two youths who misbehaved with Jha.
The Assam flood report today stated that 25 districts have been impacted by floods, affecting nearly 15 lakh people. Around 25,000 people are staying in 122 relief camps.
The flood situation in Majuli turned critical after two dykes were breachyed. In the district, 58 villages with a population of 48,381 have been affected. Four relief camps have been set up where 1,333 inmates are taking shelter.
Altogether 30 houses in Majuli are reported to be totally damaged and 360 partially damaged. Many affected people are still taking shelter in makeshift camps.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit today visited Naoboicha village in Lakhimpur district and entered the houses of flood-affected people. He walked nearly 1km and took stock of the flood situation. Purohit enquired about relief materials being provided at the camp and directed the district administration to make adequate arrangements for pure drinking water, medicines and sanitation.
The governor also took stock of damages of properties, cropland and assured the flood victims that he would compensate their losses by ensuring help from the state and the central governments.
The flood situation in Lakhimpur district remained unchanged even today. In the district 396 villages with 176,588 population are affected. The worst-affected areas include Gohpur, Telahi, Naoboicha, Ghilamara, Bihupuriya, Narayanpur among others. The flood situation of Dhemaji district remains unchanged with surging waters of the Jiadhal, Kumatia, Gai, Bewra ,Simen, Moridhal, Lali, Dikhari, Dimow rivers inundating a number of villages in West Dhemaji, Bordalani, Gogamukh, Jonai and Sisiborgaon areas.
Dimbeswar Pegu, 50, of Sissimukh Dakhin Domkata village under Machkhowa police station, died when he fell into a river at 4pm on July 13. He went for fishing on a culvert amid floodwaters and was washed away. His body was later found floating half a kilometre away.
Nearly 496 villages have been inundated in Dhemaji district. The worst affected villages include Na-Nadi, Gosaibari, Koupatani, Upar Chenia, Bam Chenia, Betbari, Bhebeli, Khana, Krishnapur, Sapekhati, Chutiakari, Phulbari, Chelajan and Kochbasti.
Meanwhile, rail minister Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu has directed officials to ensure that the railways should work in tandem with the Assam and Arunachal Pradesh governments and the National Disaster Response Force.
A special meeting was held with rail board officials on Assam floods today.
Taking stock of the situation, Prabhu emphasised that Railways must coordinate with the National Disaster Management teams working in Assam. He also asked the officials to ensure that drinking water, food, medicines and healthcare facilities should be given priority.
