Brahmaputra waters enter Dibrugarh

State flood situation remains grim, over 4 lakh hit

Our Bureau

Dibrugarh/ Guwahati, August 31: A day after suffering unprecedented water-logging, denizens of Dibrugarh remained on edge on Monday with the administration confirming that surging waters of the Brahmaputra are entering the town at Maijan.

The Brahmaputra waters have overflowed the Maijan lake at gadhuli, the administration said. The river was flowing about 20 cm above the danger level, but the level was said to be steady.

Deputy Commissioner MS Manivann, who surveyed the blocked drains and water outlets in the town, said three pumps have been deployed to flush out the water from town areas.

"Educatiol institutions will remain closed tomorrow as well. We have suspended the power supply in some areas which are still under waters," the DC said.

Residents in many localities of Dibrugarh were marooned in their houses for the second consecutive day today even as floodwaters in the town showed signs of receding.

Some 14,000 people are taking shelter in 15 relief camps opened in the district.

After reviewing the situation at Guwahati, the Chief Minister deputed a group of engineers to Dibrugarh to assess the situation and find a way out, including a master plan for draige to bail the town out of artificial floods.

Meanwhile, the overall flood situation in the State continued to be grim, affecting 4.64 lakh people.

The Assam State Disaster Magement Authority (ASDMA) said the flood situation was serious in Dhemaji, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts in eastern Assam, where more than 700 villages remained submerged for the last two days.

A total of 662 villages are submerged in Dhemaji district.

Around one lakh hectares of crop land are under water, ASDMA officials said, adding that relief and rescue operations had been stepped up in all the affected areas.

While the Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Dhubri, the Ranganodi river has breached the danger mark in parts of Lakhimpur district.

Similarly, the Jia Bhoroli is flowing above the danger level at Sonitpur.

Other rivers which have risen mecingly include Puthimari and Beki in lower Assam and the Kushiara in Karimganj district.

Authorities in Tinsukia, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur have also shut down educatiol institutions.

With the Brahmaputra's water level rising in Jorhat, the administration has closed the ferry service between Nematighat and river island Majuli.

The ASDMA said that several roads and bridges have also been damaged in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia and Cachar.