IAF copters airdrop relief materials to marooned people in Barak val

Silchar, Sep 13 (UNI) Air Force copters were today pressed into service to airdrop relief materials among the flood-battered people of the Barak valley as the situation continued to remain grim in the past six days.

Official sources said helicopters airdropped food and other materials in the worst-affected Dholai, Sonai, Algapur and Katigora circles of the valley during the day.

At least 44 houses had either collapsed or partially damaged in the flood-ravaged Saptagram and Loknathpur villages in Dholai circle of Cachar district today when an IAF copter virtually created a storm on the flood water at the time of air-dropping relief materials.

Police said the incident took place when the IAF helicopter came down very close to vast sea of flood water, caused by the Rukni River, to drop relief materials in the marooned Saptagram and Loknathpur villages.

One of the injured had been admitted to the Dholai Primary Health Center for treatment, the police said.

Though the Central Water Commission (CWC) said the water level of the Barak and its tributaries was receding slowly, the overall flood situation, however, remained unchanged, and all the major rivers of the valley, including Barak, Kushiara, Rukni, Sonai, Katakhal and Longai, had been flowing well above the danger level.

UNI