Continuous rains in North Andaman threaten villages

Diglipur, North Andaman, Sep 28 (UNI) Continuous rains in northern islands of Andaman and Nicobar archipelago since September 24 is threatening thousands of villagers, killing a few livestock and destroying huge area of paddy land and standing crops.

Though there was some let up in rain today the situation has not changed much for villagers. Flood-like situation in many remote villages had earlier forced hundreds to leave their houses and look for relief camps.

''Now most of the affected villagers have gone back to their houses but still the weather is threatening us,'' said Nagen Halder, the Pramukh of Diglipur Panchayat Samity. At present 80 families are in temporary relief camps.

Diglipur island is located in the northern region of Andaman and Nicobar chain, which has received more than 2200 MM of rainfall since January this year.

Halder told UNI in Diglipur that he had informed the Andaman and Nicobar administration regarding the present situation and was expecting a damage assessment team.

''This year none of our villagers would get paddy as most of the agricultural land was inundated and the rest damaged by pest attack due to continuous rain,'' Halder added.

The Andaman and Nicobar administration had also alerted its officers posted in this region to stay alert.

''We have asked the agriculture, fisheries and the revenue departments to assess the damage together with the PRI members and submit the report as soon as possible. We are also very alert,'' said Mr Jagjeet, Assistant Commissioner of Mayabunder and Diglipur region.

Though villagers are slowly going back to their houses from makeshift relief camps--raised by the Panchayat--still Panchayat is supplying foodgrains to the needy.

Experts say that heavy rain in Diglipur region of Andaman clubbed with the high tide create a deadly combination, causing water logging and posing danger of flood. Nearby Kalpong river, which is also swelling alarmingly, is another possible threat for the remote villagers.

''Heavy flow of rain water has caused erosion of Agricultural and plantation land and has damaged a very important culvert near Nabagram, which may collapse at any time now. In some places roads are heavily damaged,'' said P Rajmohan, Executive Officer of Diglipur Panchayat Samity.

In the late 80s this part of Andaman Island was hard hit by floods displacing thouands of families and causing huge loss of private and government property. Halder, the Pramukh of Diglipur today visited the rain-affected villages with senior level officers and assured all kind of assistance to the villagers.

Nabagram, Desh Bandhu Gram, Madhyam gram, Vidyasagar Palli among others are some villages which are worst hit by non-stop rainfall and water logging. ''We are demanding some tents, medicines and doctors urgently,'' Halder added.

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