1,27,330 People of 199 Villages in Darrang District Affected by Flood

Our Correspondent

MANGALDAI: Though the overall flood situation in Darrang is improving since Friday night and all the rivers are flowing in decreasing trend, yet the River Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at the 10th km of RK Embankment and River Nonoi is also flowing above danger level at NH 15 crossing according to the Water Resource Department.

Talking to The Sentinel, Executive Engineer of Mangaldai Water Resource Department, Deba Kumar Bora said that the rising water of River Noa caused breach of about 65-metre stretch of the left embankment at Kanaichuba near Nagarbahi which was earlier constructed by the DRDA on July 10. This created havoc in large areas of Mangaldai, including Nagarbahi, Islampur, Milanpur, Upahupara, Bhebarghat, Ward No. 8, Block Chowk, Industry Chowk.

On that day, the river was flowing 65 cm above the danger level. On the other hand, the surging water of River Nonoi breached its embankments at two stretches -at Kumarpara and at Punia Khandajan in Sipajhar area. As reported, on the same day the River Brahmaputra washed away a 60-metre portion of the Kuruwa Ring Bundh creating havoc in the entire area. To add fuel to the fire, the surging River Brahmaputra also caused breach to the Rangamati- Kuruwa Bundh now known as Lenga-Kuruwa Road at Kuruwa and washed away the unauthorized culvert that has been constructed by the PWD instead of sluice gate.

On the other hand, till Saturday, a total of 1,27,330 people of 199 villages of four Revenue Circle areas of the district have been affected by the first wave of devastating flood. A population of 51,110 under Mangaldai Revenue Circle area has been affected. A total of 8,550 affected people have been taking shelter in the relief camps. Significantly, the first wave of flood has affected 10,154 hectares of crop area in the district.

However, negligence of a Circle Officer caused unnecessary delay of three days in providing relief to the flood affected villagers under Patharighat Revenue Circle. This has been alleged by none other than State Finance and Health Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma during his visit to the flood-affected areas of the district on Friday. Significantly, due to the negligence of the Circle Officer of Mangaldai Revenue Circle, rotten rice not fit for human consumption was distributed among the flood-affected villagers and this serious allegation was levelled before Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma. Taking a serious note of the allegation, Sarma directed the Deputy Commissioner to take action on the supplier and the official concerned without any delay and to replace the rice.

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