Dhemaji: People near the Siang river in East Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh and Jonai subdivision in Dhemaji district of Upper Assam have voiced concern over unnatural flow and colour change of the river.

Last year people raised questions on turbidity of Siang's water which was never noticed before. This year strong waves, rise in water level and massive erosion have threatened dwellers on the banks of the river.

Changes in the course of the Siang, known as Brahmaputra in Assam, have raised the alarm in three Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh and Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur and Majuli districts of Assam since August 14.

China had sent a note to the Centre about possible floods in downstream areas based on sharing of hydrological data with India as per a 2006 agreement. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two countries in 2013 and 2015. A meeting was held in 2016 in this regard.

On August 31, 19 people stranded on a sandbar in the Siang were airlifted from Jampani under Sille Oyan Circle of East Siang district. Another 15 people were rescued by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the district administration helped by people at different locations through which the Siang passes.

Thirty people were rescued by the Dhemaji district administration from the Brahmaputra who were on their way to Kabo sapori (a sandbar) in the district.

According to locals, discharge of water this year is the highest in the past 50 years.

On August 30, Arunachal East MP Ninong Ering appealed to the defence minister and the Arunachal government for airlifting the stranded people. Ering wrote to Union ministries concerned about changing features of the river since 2017.

The East Siang district administration has advised people residing in low-lying areas on both banks to remain alert, but told them not to panic. Similar arrangements were adopted in the Upper Assam districts.

On Monday, Mebo MLA-cum-adviser to chief minister, Lombo Tayeng, took stock of water level of the Siang at Seram village under Mebo subdivision of the district where houses of many people were destroyed and distributed CGI sheets to 10 affected households along with a cash amount of Rs 50,000 for each family for timely reconstruction of the houses.

Tayeng also took stock of erosion at Seram village and said he had already intimated the situation to chief minister Pema Khandu. He appealed to the chief minister and the Centre for effective flood control measures along the left bank of the Siang.