Rivers subside in Assam, road link still snapped

Guwahati, Sep 6 (UNI) The flood situation in Assam showed marginal improvement with river water levels falling even as the vital road link for the entire North East region through NH 31 continued to remain snapped near Rangiya, about 45 km from the capital city, for the past seven days.

The Brahmaputra continued to submerge almost 60 per cent of Majuli, the world's largest inhabited river island, though there were no reports of new rise in water levels.

More than 80 per cent of the total population of the island had been affected with erosion posing to be a grave danger when the water subsides.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today assured of all help to the flood-hit people, stating that fund were no constraint for the state.

He also maintained that erosion was proving to be a more serious threat than flood itself, adding that the state government was evaluating options for re-drawing the flood management programme. Meanwhile, the National Highway 31 was still to be opened for vehicular traffic after gushing waters of the Puthimari river had overtopped in near Natun Bazar in Rangiya subdivision of Kamrup (rural) district last Sunday.

The alternative route through a diversion near Nalbari was also threatened by deep current of the Pagladiya river, with administration sources informing that approach road to a vital bridge in the route was weakening.

The Puthimari and Pagladiya rivers have created havoc in lower Assam districts of Nalbari, Kamrup (rural), with Beki river, fed by water from Bhutan, posing serious threat to Barpeta district. The Puthimari river is still flowing above the danger level at 52.12 mt, as per Central Water Commission report.

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