Floods keep Asom district cut off for a week

Guwahati, July 18 (UNI) Flood continued to play havoc in the Dhemaji district of Asom, with the district remaining cut off from the rest of the country for a week now.

Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner (DC) Diwakar Mishra informed that the road communication was yet to be restored after flash floods had washed away 1.5 km of national highway 52 in the district and several important bridges.

Sudden spate in the rivers Kumotia and Jiadhol, important tributaries of the Brahmaputra, on July 12 last had led to flood in the district, displacing 40,000 people and inundating 120 villages.

The DC said the floods were caused by sudden rush of water in the rivers from the higher reaches at Arunachal Pradesh and fresh rains have not led the water levels to recede.

About 30,000 people are still in government relief camps and temporary shelters, with the houses in the effected villages still under water.

He informed that five medical camps had been opened and doctors were visiting the remote areas in boats.

''We have reports of cases of fever, diarrhoea and such other diseases. These are being treated and there are no reports of any epidemic as of now,'' Mr Mishra added.

He said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Chief Engineer had visited the NH 52, which had been washed away, yesterday and said restoration work would start after water recedes. The river had changed its natural course during the flash flood.

The DC said the situation was under control and the district administration was well geared to tackle any eventuality.

UNI