July 16: Over 100 families residing in Das Colony of Panchgram town are spending sleepless nights with the Barak river perilously close to inundating the area.

Last month, nearly 15 houses and six electric poles of the Panchgram-Meherpur 33,000 kv line were submerged following of a breach in the embankment. It was a grim reminder of the catastrophe a few years ago, when an entire village ? Kirabari ? was gobbled up by the river.

The population of Das Colony is at present around 200. They claim that funds were sanctioned last year to check erosion, but nothing has been done so far.

?Due to constant erosion, a petrol pump, a portion of the National Highway 53 and some business establishments are also under threat. These may be submerged any time,? said Kajal Choudhury, who lost his house and other immovable property last month.

Heeralal Mundra, Nani Sankar Goala, Amulya Das and Jotua Mallah have lost everything, too, and are looking for alternative accommodation. There cries for rehabilitation from the district administration have gone unheard.

Cracks have also opened up in houses that are still standing. ?We don?t know what to do. We are at our wit?s end. The only thing people of influence are interested in is how to exploit the situation to their advantage. More needs to be done than just eyeing funds for embankments,? another resident said.

He criticised the inertia of elected representatives, saying none of them had highlighted their plight in the corridors of power. ?It seems their eyes are fixated on the funds that are sanctioned for construction or repair of embankments.? he said.

The general feeling is that Dispur has been turning a blind eye towards the Barak Valley.

?If they (the political leadership) are really concerned about our welfare, they should send a team of experts to assess the situation. They should come and see how we are passing our days. We have been let down by both Hailakandi and Dispur,? Choudhury said.