Flood situation remains critical, rivers on high spate

* Barak Valley, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura remain cut off

* NEEPCO releases water, high alert in downstream districts

* 3,86,570 people affected

* Three persons missing in Dima Hasao

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/ HAFLONG, June 15: The flood situation in the State remained critical today with 3,86,570 people affected across 668 villages in seven districts and train services to the Barak Valley, Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura remaining cut off due to fresh landslides in the Lumding-Badarpur hill section of Assam even as the Northeast Frontier Railway cancelled several trains.

The seven districts affected on the third day of the first wave of floods are Hojai, Cachar, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Karimganj, Karbi Anglong (East) and West Karbi Anglong. Till reports last came in, 325 houses were fully damaged in the flood situation.

The rivers flowing above the danger level are Dhansiri at Numaligarh (Golaghat), Jia Bharali at NT Road Xing (Sonitpur), Barak at A. Ghat (Cachar) and Badarpurghat (Karimganj), Katakhal at Matizuri (Hailakandi), and Kushiyara at Karimganj (Karimganj).

Rainfall triggered landslide occurred at Mahur, Harangajao, Maibang in Dima Hasao in which 136 houses were fully damaged and in Birubari, Nizarapara in Kamrup Metro where no casualty has been reported.

NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) and Assam Rifles teams have been pressed into service in the flood affected areas for search and rescue operations. Altogether 471 persons have been rescued in Karimganj, Hailakandi, Cachar and Golaghat.

A total of 67,175 inmates are residing in 162 camps that are operational in Karimganj, Hailakandi, Karbi Anglong (East) and Golaghat districts.

Meanwhile, NEEPCO has reportedly released water from the Ranganadi Hydro Electric Project. However, the district administrations of the downstream region are on high alert besides maintaining close coordination with the NEEPCO authorities.

Talking to The Sentinel, PRO Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Nripendra Bhattacharjee said that “the Lumding-Haflong line has been restored,” and added that “the stretch from Haflong to Badarpur is expected to be also restored by June 17 unless there is no landslides or heavy rains.” He added that “all long distance trains towards Silchar have been controlled at either Guwahati or Lumding.”

OUR HAFLONG CORRESPONDENT ADDS: The number of missing persons in the floods and landslides has risen to three in Dima Hasao.

Though restoration works by the NF Railways and also the NHAI are going on in full swing, road communication between Lumding-Haflong and Haflong -Silchar besides the rail communication between Lumding and Badarpur are yet to be restored.

Following instructions from the Deputy Commissioner, the companies engaged in restoration work of NH-54 started the restoration work in at least 12 locations on NH-54E and it is expected to be cleared by tomorrow up to Haflong. However, there is little chance of immediate restoration of the stretch from Haflong to Silchar.

Though the NF Railways cleared all landslides between Daotuhaja and Phiding by Thursday night, fresh landslides between Damchera and Bandarkhal stood on the way of restoration. All the trains including Humsafar, and Anand Vihar Rajdhani remained cancelled between Guwahati-Agartala and Guwahati-Silchar besides others. Restoration work is going on in the affected locations round the clock. Divisional Railway Manager along with Chief Bridge Engineer from Maligaon are at site monitoring the restoration work.