OUR CORRESPONDENT
MANGALDAI: The first wave of flood has taken a serious turn in several areas of Darrang district following the unexpected breach of an embankment at Janaram Chowka near here on Friday night.
The very dilapidated earthen embankment on the western bank of River Saktola at village Keotpara under Mangaldai Revenue Circle was breached at a stretch of 25 metre, inundating several villages. Finding no alternative and seeing the helplessness of the department officials, the villagers gathered at the spot and tried to reduce the current of the surging water by felling bamboo trees. A total of 10,000 people have been severely affected by the flood. The Mangaldai legislator immediately rushed to the spot and joined hands with villagers in controlling the erosion.
Darrang Deputy Commissioner Dilip Kumar Borah had asked the Revenue Circle Officer of Mangaldai and officials of the Water Resource Department to proceed to the spot on Friday night to find out some remedial measures. The Deputy Commissioner on Saturday morning also visited the spot to take stock of the situation. Significantly, the aggrieved villagers have expressed their strong resentment against the Water Resource Department, accusing them of gross negligence and indifferent attitude towards the timely repair of the very dilapidated embankment which had been constructed by the DRDA several years back.