Asom hit by floods

Guwahati, June 1 (UNI) The first wave of floods hit Asom with the worst news coming from Nagaon and Dhemaji districts.

Dhemaji is always the first to be hit and authorities fear that during the next four months the situation may worsen.

In Nagaon didtrict, about 100 villages in the greater Kampur area bore the brunt of the Kopili river as it is in spate. Down at Barak valley flash floods has swept aside a bridge, which is being reconstructed.

Official sources confirmed one death in Tinsukia district where the body of a 54-year-old man was discovered at Guijan near Tinsukia district.

Flood waters have also damaged the Dibru Saikhowa area but in terms of human suffering it was more in the flood prone Simen Sapori, which is already under water and heavy erosion.

Erosion of the embankment was still on Near Naoboicha and the PWD road linking Dhemaji town was also damaged.

In Central Asom, the Kopili inundated about 100 villages and the river was flowing more than 9 metres above the danger level. This was due to heavy rains in the past couple of days in the North Cachar hills district.

Meanwhile, flash floods in the Katakhal river in Barak Valley washed away a concrete bridge over the river on Wednesday. The Rs 14 crore bridge of the Public Works Department was under construction at Gaglacherra in Hailakandi district over Katakhal river in south Assam.

Official sources said the 180-metre long bridge collapsed at about 1600 hrs when the workers were busy giving final touches. The work was to be completed within the next few days.

However, as the bridge collapsed gradually, the workers managed to save themselves.

UNI MT PL AKP lS BST1443