Flood situation remains unchanged in Barak Valley

Special Correspondent

Silchar, June 15: There seems to be no immediate change in the flood situation of Barak Valley, considered against the forecast of heavy to mild showers for the next 3 days by the department of meteorology. Rain fed Barak and its tributaries, Madhura, Jatinga, Dholeswari, Katakhal, Longai, Kushiara and Shingla continue to flow above red mark. According to the information, 56 villages in Cachar have been inundated and hundreds of households affected, necessitating opening of 51 relief camps. The low lying areas of this town have gone under water.

Affected people, men, women and children have poured in with their belongings in the premises of schools. 59 villages in the Katigorah revenue circle on Indo-Bangladesh border have come under the spate of flood waters. Two BSF BOPs are under water. The overflowing Jatinga river emanating from Dima Hasao hills has flooded vast areas of Borkhola block. Silchar-Jaintia road is disrupted as the river water flows over it. The villages of Chechri, Ujannagar, Arical, Naraincherra, Dhumkar, Bijoykar, Rampur, Iraband, Rongpur and Chandpur under Borkhola are water logged with hundreds of families marooned. MLA of the area, Kishore Nath along with party workers is on the round of the flood affected areas.

Silchar-Kumbhirgram VIP road has been under water of flooded river Madhura. Several villages are in the grip of natural disaster. SDRF has been pressed into service to rescue marooned people. A report from Karimganj says, Longai and Kushiara rivers continue to rise alarmingly, taking in their grip vast areas of the border town. Many commercials shops have remained closed. Seepages from the breached portions of Kushiara river meandering along the town are being plugged by the water resources department. Subrata Bhattacharjee, district BJP president, and Mission Ranjan Das, former MLA of Karimganj, went around the flooded areas for initiating necessary relief works in consultation with the district administration.

The information of CWC says Kushiara is rising and has touched 16.21 metre against its red level of 14.94 metre. Longai is flowing above its danger level of 16.21 metre and has touched the mark of 24.06 metre. A report from Lakhipur sub division says NH 37 connecting Silchar with Imphal has come under flood waters in Lakhipur sub division, affecting movement of vehicular traffic for more than 5 hours. The overflowing river Chiri besides affecting NH 37 has submerged several houses and shops along the road. ADC and in-charge SDO (Civil) J R Lalsim, SDPO Gaurav Kumar Agarwal and O/C Lakhipur PS Anwar Hussain Choudhury have visited the flood affected areas and taken stock of the situation. Taking advantage of the situation, unscrupulous businessmen have pushed up the prices of essential commodities which prompted the sub divisional administration to caution them not to cross the limit. They have been directed to display stock position and price list. VDPs have also been kept on alert.