Army pressed into rescue operation in Barak

Silchar, Sep 09 (UNI) Army has been pressed into service for rescue and relief operations in flood affected Cachar district today, while BSF and Assam Rifles personnel were asked to remain standby.

District administration has given requisition for 500 boats for the rescue and relief operations, the sources said. Two persons including a house wife and a youth drowned in the district yesterday as flood situation, for the third time during this season in Barak Valley areas of Assam worsened during the day.

A number of dykes of all the major rivers including Barak, Kushiara, Sonai, Rukni, Katakhal, Dholeswar and Longai breached in many places inundating fresh areas. More than six lakh people in Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts were affected by the fresh flood in the valley.

Cachar's Katigora, Borkhola, Sonai and Dholai, Hailakandi district's Algapur and Hailakandi and Karimganj district's Patharkandi, South Karimganj and North Karimganj circles were worst affected, where thousands of people have taken shelter in safer places.

Flood situation became alarming as flood control dykes of all the major rivers breached in a number of places today inundating several villages and washing away a number of houses. Swirling water of Katahkal river washed away atleast 12 houses in Katlicherra area of Hailakandi district last evening.

Parts of Silchar and Karimganj towns have been inundated by the flood water of Barak and Kushiara rivers respectively.

Flood water has inundated railway track between Salchapra and Katakhal stations in Silchar-Badarpur section snapping the region's railway communication with rest of the country. Traffic had also been halted since morning on NH-53 as the national highway in Katakhal has gone under water.

Traffic on NH-54 and NH-44 is also on the verge of closure as flood water has inundated the roads in several places of both the highways. Cachar, Mizoram and parts of Manipur is now cut of from the rest of the country by both road and railway connectivity.

While water of Barak river is flowing 1.5 metres above danger mark, Katakhal 2.5 metres, Kushiara is flowing 2 metre above danger level.

CWC sources said water level in all the rivers of the valley has been rising alarmingly due to heavy rain in the catchment areas and the district is expected to experience heavy rainfall during next 24 hours.

UNI