Floods take toll in State, rivers flowing above danger level

* Three persons feared dead in landslides & floods

* NEEPCO releases water

* Train services affected

* Highways submerged

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/HAFLONG, June 14: At least three persons are feared dead and two missing due to floods and heavy landslides across the State on Thursday. While two persons lost their lives in a landslide incident in Mahur under Halflong Revenue Circle, Dima Hasao, another person died in flood related incident under Bokakhat Revenue Circle in Golaghat district. Meanwhile, as NEEPCO has released water, and as a result there is danger of areas getting submerged in various downstream areas. Train services on the Lumding-Silchar track are stopped due to landslides at a number of places.

As on the second day of the floods, 1,66,836 people of 370 villages in seven Districts have been affected on the second day of the floods in the State. The districts are Hojai, Cachar, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Karimganj, Karbi Anglong (East) and West Karbi Anglong. Altogether 35,927 persons are now taking shelter in 115 relief camps. The total crop area affected is 137667 hectare of land.

Meanwhile, the flood situation in Barak valley is gradually turning critical with the Barak River flowing above the danger level. The Inland Water Transport department has stopped ferry movement on Barak River.

The rivers flowing above the danger level are Dhansiri at Numaligarh (Golaghat), Barak at A.P. Ghat (Cachar) and Badarpurghat (Karimganj), Katakhal at Matizuri (Hailakandi), Kushiyara at Karimganj (Karimganj).

NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams have been engaged into service in the flood affected areas for search and rescue operation. 422 Person have been rescued in from Karimganj district, Hailakandi, Cacahar and Golaghat by them. 115 number of Camps have been operational in Karimganj, Hailakandi, Karbi Anglong (East) and Golaghat with 35,927 inmates.

OUR HAFLONG CORRESPONDENT ADDS: All the road and rail communications were disrupted due to floods and heavy landslides following incessant rain in many locations.

At Kalachand under Mabang Police Station eight persons and five dumpers were washed away in the Mahur River but six of them were rescued while two persons remain missing. SDRF team requisitioned for search and rescue operation.

At Hangrum under Mahur Police station, a woman (69 years) and her son (35 years) named Ramsuahungle Riame and Paotuingyuing Riame respectively were found dead buried under heavy landslide.

Rail communication between Lumding and Badarpur was disrupted due to landslides in between Jatinga–Harangajao and Daotuhaja and also at Phiding. All the trains were either terminated or sent back to their originating station. Restoration works were carried out on a war footing and the landslides cleared within six hours. The train services were yet to resume till the filing of this report.

Altogether 24 villages of Dima Hasao within the three blocks of Harangajao, Mahur and Maibang were reported to be affected due to landslides wherein many dwelling houses and the roads were damaged.

Road communication was also disrupted due to landslides at many location in between Jatinga–Harangajao , Haflong-Mahur and Jatinga–Haflong besides others.

Meanwhile the Deputy Commissioner, Amitabh Rajkhowa while talking to media persons requested all the passengers to avoid night journey from Dima Hasao to other districts. He added that the road communication between Lumding and Haflong would take three to four days for restoration as there have been heavy landslides near Kelelo and N Leikul. He assured that the DDMA has already been alerted and the entire line department instructed to remain ready to tackle the situation. He further said, the food and Civil Supply department has also been instructed to be prepared with sufficient food stuff.