Floods send Dibrugarh reeling

Our Bureau

Dibrugarh/ Guwahati, Aug 30: Dibrugarh and its adjoining areas witnessed unprecedented flash floods on Sunday following three days of incessant downpour, severely paralyzing normal life. Extensive water-logging was also witnessed in some other Upper Assam towns, including Tinsukia.

Almost the entire Dibrugarh town was under artificial flood waters, except for Amolapatty area. A woman and her child – Monika Das and Tutu Das - were drowned at Thakurthan while one bin Saikia was electrocuted at Sankardev Colony. Apprehending more mishaps, town electricity authorities has suspended power supply from 7 pm today.

Power supply was also cut-off at Digboi.

Dibrugarh Superintendent of Police Ra Bhuyan had to shift to the circuit house as his official residence was inundated in the flash floods.

The administration has also ordered closure of schools and colleges on Monday.

People had a harrowing time in coping with the artificial floods. Shoppers were uble to purchase essential commodities as most markets areas were under waters and shops remained closed.

Rubber boats provided by the administration were seen plying on the roads, most of which became unmotorable. The administration was forced to prohibit movement on several lanes which were under knee-deep waters.

However, though the water level of Brahmaputra was above the danger level, it was still around 8 feet below the dyke.

Deputy Commissioner MS Manivann said the town witnessed 160 mm rainfall in the past 24 hours, the highest in a day in the last five years.

“The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level but it is steady. We have deployed one platoon of SDRF personnel for rescue and relief works. Seven relief camps have been opened. People need not panic as we have sufficient stock of medicines and food stuff,” he said.

Towards late evening, the water in the town was reported to be receding.

Senior citizens who described the inundation as unprecedented, pointed out that drains in the town have not been cleared for more than a year, resulting in massive blockages and artificial floods. Moreover, a number of water reservoirs have been filled up for construction activities, blocking the tural flow of water in and around the town. Local residents of Rohmoria also reported large-scale erosion in the area. They feared that the Brahmaputra may gobble up a stretch of 400 bighas anytime soon.