Breather for people as flood situation improves in Assam

GUWAHATI: There is finally some good news for the people of Assam who have been battling floods since the last few days. The situation in the state has shown significant improvement since Saturday evening with the number of people affected by flood coming down to 4,259 from the earlier 10,000.
As per the evening flood report issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Sunday, only two districts of Nalbari and Dhemaji remain under the grip of floods. In Nalbari, one of the worst-hit districts during the second wave of floods, 3,833 people still remain affected. In Demaji though, the number is much lower at 426. Although water has receded from most of the agricultural regions in the two districts, an initial estimate shows that nearly 658 hector of crop area has been damaged. ASDMA stated that 24 villages across Tihu, Ghograpar, Pachim Nalbari and Banekuchi still remain flood-affected whereas only two villages in Jonai, Demaji, still battle this natural disaster.
The flood situation in Dibrugarh too showed improvement, although marginal, as 4,000, out of the originally-affected 7,000, still battle through the deluge. With the Brahmaputra still flowing above the danger level, six villages - Mirigaon, Tengabari, Dodhia, Rangmela, Raidang and Gereki - and swathes of agricultural land remained inundated.
"Thanks to the recent dry condition prevailing in the lower parts of Arunachal Pradesh, the areas under flood in Dibrugarh district has come down. The number of flood-affected people has also decreased from 7,000 to around 4,000. Since this is the onset of monsoon, we expect more bouts of rain in the coming days which can again lead to flood-like situations. We are well prepared for any eventuality. Medical and mobile rescue teams have also been formed," Dipjyoti Hatikakati, Dibrugarh district project officer of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, said.
Pallav Gopal Jha, Deputy Commissioner of Dibrugarh, has directed every block development officer and circle officer to continuously monitor the situation and keep all arrangements ready. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) has been also been instructed to keep vigil in the flood-prone areas. Patrolling along the river banks is being carried out on a regular basis and people living on sandbars and along the river banks of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries have been asked to remain extra-alert. Officials of the Dibrugarh district disaster management authority and water resources department have also been conducting flood response training programmes in the district.