First wave of flood hits Asom

Guwahati, June 1 (UNI) The annual scourge of flood visited 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 flood will leave untold miseries.

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

Official sources confirmed one dead 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 was still on.

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 nearly 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 have 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 4 PM when the workers were busy giving final touches atop the bridge. Work for the bridge was about to be completed within the next few days.

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

UNI MT PL AKP1314