Flood inundates 10 villages in Lakhimpur due to torrential rain in Assam and Arunachal

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Due to torrential rain in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Arunchal Pradesh since Tuesday, the water levels of the major rivers in Lakhimpur district have risen again. The overflown water of several rivers inundated as many as 10 revenue villages under North Lakhimpur, Narayanpur and Bihpuriya Revenue Circles (RC) in North Lakhimpur subdivision on Thursday.

The overflown water of Ranganadi River inundated Amtola Revenue village while Tarajuly village under Bihpuriya RC was submerged by the consecutive waves of flood by Pabha River. On the other hand, flood caused by River Dropang inundated eight revenue villages- No. 2 Tatibahar, No. 4 Tatibahar, Athanibari, Burhaburhi, Puli-Naharani, Phutabhog, Somdhara and No. 1 Uttar Kathani under Narayanpur RC. As per the report found from the district administration, the present wave of flash flood affected a total of 4,605 people – 3,185 in North Lakhimpur RC, 1,200 in Narayanpur RC and 220 in Bihpuriya RC, and submerged 207.63 hectares of crop areas. Similarly, 740 big animals and 162 small animals were affected by flood.

Due to the heavy downpour in Arunachal Pradesh, the water level in the catchment area of the Ranganadi Hydro Electric Plant (RHEP) has also risen. As a result, the RHEP Management has released excess water from the Ranganadi dam since Wednesday night by opening the Radial Gate No. 5. The excess water was released through the gate by opening it by 200mm at 1.00am, 500mm at 1.30mm, 400mm at 6.30mm, 300mm at 10.15am, 200mm at 12.15pm, 100mm at 1.30pm on Thursday. The RHEP management has been releasing the excess water through the same dam gate by opening it by 200mm since 4.30pm till the time of filing this report.

On the other hand, the people of the larger Blankeng, Keseruguri, Dakhingaon has remained isolated for the second day after the overflowning water of the Sampora River on Wednesday washed away the bamboo bridge constructed on the unplugged portion of the Sampora-Keseruguri PWD road at Ghilamora under Dhakuakhana subdivision. The flood caused by the river inundated Madhya Sampora ME and High School, Kathalguri LP School. As a consequence, regular classes were not possible in the schools on Thursday though they were first opened at the end of month long summer vacation and the students were compelled to go back home.

Moreover, most of the teachers could not come to the schools because of the washed away bamboo bridge. No administrative representative has visited the place since Wednesday, as a result of which the local people expressed strong resentment.

Also read: Assam floods: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar contributes Rs 5 crore for the flood victims