Flood situation in Asom alarming, BSF pressed into service

Guwahati, Jun 20 (UNI) The Border Security Force(BSF) has been pressed into service for rescue operations as the overall flood situation in the Barak Valley continued to be alarming.

Heavy showers throughout the state for the past few days have affected several lakhs of people in six districts.

Official sources here today said one BSF party had been engaged for rescue operations in Karimganj district where all rivers were flowing above the danger level. The flood water had entered Karimganj town, overflowing the E and D Dykes.

The state government had sounded a red alert yesterday.

The Brahmaputra river was flowing above the danger levels at several points in Dibrugarh, Neamatighat at Jorhat and just below the danger levels at Tezpur, Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri.

The flood situation was worsening in Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh and Sibsagar districts of Brahmaputra Valley, the sources added.

The number of villages affected in the state due to the first wave of floods had gone up to 200, while a total area of over 7,000 hectares had been affected so far, official sources said.

Due to heavy rains, the level in river Katakhal was flowing two metres above the danger level while breaches occurred at some places in Hailakandi district of Barak valley.

Besides, water level of all rivers of the Cachar district were rising and the flood water entered some parts of Silchar town area.

Moreover, breach of one dyke at Roypur was reported.

The flood water was, however, reported to be receding in Dhemaji district since yesterday.

Water levels of all the rivers of the Sibsagar district were rising. Erosion upto about 30 meters had taken place at the Desang river bank at Betybari Chetia Kaiborta village.

The water resources department was taking measures to prevent the erosion, official sources said.

Water level of rivers Brahmaputra and Buridehing were rising in Dibrugarh district. However, no report of damage was received from the district so far.

UNI