Dhemaji cut-off for 20 days, situation still grim

Guwahati, Jul 30 (UNI) Dhemaji district of Asom remained cut off from the rest of the country for the 20th day today, with the flood threatening to keep the district inaccessible for a few more weeks. Deputy Commissioner Diwakar Mishra informed over telephone that road communication could be restored only after several more weeks, while the main link through NH 52 could take months.

The Kumotia had changed its course on July 12 and was flowing over the NH 52, disrupting transport to the district ever since.

Mr Mishra said the road could be restored only after the river was pushed back to its natural course and it could be done after water had receded.

There had been five major breaches in the district, two by the Kumotia and one each by the Gai, Jiadhol and Jolokiasoki.

The alternate route opened by constructing a temporary bailey bridge at Tengagara Bordoibam by the Army was also overtopped, snapping road communication totally.

However, there had been no casualty in the district so far though it remained the worst-hit in the current flood wave in the state. Mr Mishra informed that 1.80 lakh people had been displaced and nearly 400 villages submerged.

Several bridges had been washed away, the latest being a PWD bridge at Nilakh this afternoon.

He said nine relief camps and 100 temporary shelters were being operated in Jonai sub-division.

The people in the other areas had mostly moved to their houses, while others were taking shelter in higher places, and relief camps in other parts had been closed, he added.

He said there was no shortage of essentials and medicines and health teams were regularly visiting the affected areas. There had been no report of any major outbreak of epidemic, though a few cases of fever and diarrhoea had been reported, he stated.

Mr Mishra also informed that four traders were held for blackmarketing essentials in Silapathar area and an FIR had been lodged against them.

UNI