District administration to provide relief to storm-hit
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
Silchar, May 5: Owing to the heavy rainfall, cyclone and hailstorms in Barak Valley over the past few weeks, the Deputy Commissioner and Disaster Magement Authority along with representatives of other departments, submitted a report at a press-meet in the conference hall of the office of the Deputy Commissioner, today, assessing the losses and damages that have occurred. The Phase I assessment has been based on the damages caused by the cyclonic storm on April 13.
“Since a lot of damages have been done, we have decided to proceed step-by-step. Our first step was to prepare an assessment report on the areas that have been affected by the storm on April 13.It is Phase I assessment,” said S Viswathan, Deputy Commissioner of the district. A series of storms stared hitting the valley from April 13 onwards and it continued for a week. It was stated in the press-meet that various department like tiol Disaster Response Force (NRDF), Forest Department, State Disaster Response Force (SRDF) team, PWD, Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) and PHE started to work to restore power and water supply to the affected areas.
For search and rescue operation, a team led by Inspector Hanuman Ram worked relentlessly. A flash flood on April 23 at Jatinga which falls under Silcahr Revenue Circle drowned 13 persons. Out of these 13, 8 bodies have been recovered. In case some bodies flows towards Bangladesh, Border Security Force (BSF) has been instructed to keep in touch with the personnel of Bangladesh BSF.
At Lakhipur also flash floods have created havoc. A body of a missing person has been recovered. The assessment report informed that total 13 persons have been killed and 4 injured.
“We are trying our level best to find out the remaining persons. On April 28, another catastrophic cyclone hit the valley and an urgent meeting was called for restoration power and water supply,” added S Viswathan.
Interacting with the media-persons, the Deputy Commissioner said that staffs from various departments, patworis have been assigned the task to visit the affected areas for presenting a truthful picture. He further said that fund provision comes from the state government and it is transferred to the bank account number of the victims. “In case of death, each victim’s family will receive Rs 4 lakhs as ex-gratia. Out of the 13 persons who lost their lives, 6 families have received the amount. 2 more, 1 from Silchar, another from Lakhipur will get it very soon. Remaining 5 bodies will be recovered as our best team is working on it, assured Viswathan.
The assessment report reflected that total 174 numbers of elementary schools, 20 secondary schools have been wholly or partially damaged. In agricultural sector, total 25,318 farm families from Cachar district have been affected. The list of affected list includes 15 goan panchayats of Katigorah. In total, 12,290 households have been damaged. “In all, damages up to a sum of Rs 16 crores have been incurred in the Cachar district. It is the Phase I assessment report based on the 15 gaon panchayats of Katigorah,” said the Deputy Commissioner.
To keep people alert, a Flood Mock Drill team will visit Katigorah on May 29, Salchapra on June 1 and Lakhipur on June 3.
