Kalasi river causes havoc in Khungkrajhora area of Chirang

From our Correspondent

KOKRAJHAR, July 28: The villagers of Khungkrajhora area, covering at least 14 villages, are in great trouble following the breach of River Makra bund near Indo-Bhutan border. Several hundred families have been forced to take shelter in Khungkrajhora ME School since Tuesday as many villages have been submerged due to flood waters. The villagers are likely to face difficulties for a long period as this river takes much time to recede.

The poor villagers were seen desperate as they are facing problems of flood and movement of elephants at night. The villagers have lost most of their belongings and other properties as the Kalasi River got sudden upsurge at Khungkrajhora following the breach of bund at Makra River. The domestic animals are also under threat as grazing lands are now under water. Many families are selling their domestic animals at low rate.

Talking to visiting media persons on Wednesday, Mongla Madua and Biswath Toppo said they were forced to flee from the villages on Monday night as the Kalasi River which passes through their village was flowing above danger level following the breach of Makra River along Indo-Bhutan border. They said most of the villagers failed to shift their belongings due to sudden upsurge of water and they are now in Khungkrajhora ME School. They also said officials from the district administration visited their village on Tuesday. Bathesda English Medium School of Khungkrajhora has been submerged while a wooden bridge in the midst of the village has been completely washed away and this has disconnected the village with the western part.

Toppo said the ubated illegal collection of boulders from the Makra River in the foothills of Bhutan was the main cause of breach of bund of Kamrakra River. He alleged that the boulders of protection bund and dykes had also been carried away by a certain group of people which was the prime cause of breach of bund.

Shivcharan rzary of Khubgkrajhora said villages like Khungkrajhora, Durgapur, Ambari, Dologaon, Gobdapara, Boldi, Subhaijhar, Samthaibari, Tangapara, Ledopara, Malipara, Chouraguri, Soisigaon and Khantalguri were fully and partially submerged by the flood waters. He said people were passing sleepless night as their belongings had been lost at the sudden upsurge and the water was not likely to recede soon and protection of the villages was not possible unless the breached bund at Kamakra was repaired or reconstructed. He also alleged that the mafia had stolen the river fetching, boulder wire and illegally collected the boulders not only from the river but also from the bund.

Dr. Prem Kumar rzary, who is in medical duty at Khungkrajhora ME School, said people were facing two types of problems - one due to flood waters and the other due to wild elephants as groups of jumbos come to the village in the evening searching of food. He said medical check-up of the people living in the relief camps was being done and medicines were also being distributed. He said there were five pregnt women at Khungkrajhora ME School and they were being regularly examined and taken care of. He also said the bund at Makra River should be repaired immediately to save the villages from the flood havoc.