Arunachal dams flood northern Assam

Guwahati, June 15 (UNI) Red alert has been sounded and the Army put on stand-by as parts of northern Assam, particularly North Lakhimpur district, reeled under flash floods created by gushing water from three dams in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh for the second day today.

Official sources said water from as many as three under-construction dams, one of the NEEPCO and two of the NHPC project, had entered into adjoining Assam from Arunachal Pradesh following incessant rain in the latter state since the past three days.

Two coffer dams of NHPC of the Lower Subansiri project gave way under the force of rising water and inundated vast tracts of land on the lower end.

Water spilled over the Ranganadi project of the NEEPCO that was being constructed at Papumpare district of Arunachal and submerged North Lakhimpur district.

The district witnessed the worst floods in over three decades as the water released from the dam gushed into the rivers and several rivers flowing through the district, including Kakoijan, Dibru, Ranganadi, Singora, Sesa and Pisola, overflowed the banks.

A culvert on National Highway 52 was washed away in the district, snapping road communication with the rest of the state.

Assam had been raising objections to the mega dam projects in the neighbouring state due to the threat percept to the low-end areas but the Arunachal government had proceeded with the construction.

Tezpur town and its adjoining areas in Sonitpur district were also inundated by flood waters.

Water from the Jiadhol river in the district has submerged several parts of Tezpur and also led to erosion.

Meanwhile, water level in various major rivers in upper Assam, including Brahmaputra, was precariously close to the danger level, with the water crossing the red mark in some places.

Heavy downpour in Arunachal and Assam also added to the rising water levels.

UNI SG DPM RD1239