Picture of devastation emerges in Assam as water recedes

Guwahati, Sep 13 (UNI) With the flooded Brahmaputra and Barak rivers along with their tributaries receding,a picture of utter devastation has emerged in Assam leaving the state authorities shell-shocked.

According to reports, the worst affected districts were Cachar, Hailakandi, Lakhimpur and Baska. But nothing was comparable to the trail of devastation left by the Barak river.

The death toll in the third wave of flood stood at 42. The state government had promised to pay compensation of Rs one lakh each. But at least in dozen cases, bodies were yet to be found and the government made it clear that compensation would be paid only after post-mortem report.

Almost the whole of Barak valley is still under water. From Kalian, foothills of Meghalaya, to Vairangate, foothills of Mizo Hills, vast stretches were under water and vehicular traffic stopped. Country boats were the only means of transport.

The rescue and relief operation was slow, unlike in the Brahmaputra valley, where the official machinery is efficient.

In the Brahmaputra valley, the situation had improved and barring a few areas of Barpeta, Dhubri and Goalpara as well as Morigaon district, the flood water had receded completely. However, in the river island Majuli, the situation continued to be grim.

The government was grappling with 146 breaches in embankment and around 1100 small and medium damaged bridges.

Almost all the major national highways were badly damaged and the worst section was between Bhabanipur to Nalbari where a bridge was swept away by the flood.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had sent an SOS to the Prime Minister's Office for a huge flood relief fund to put the infrastructure back to shape.

UNI