Assam CM orders CID probe into Bethukandi dyke breach

Silchar: Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had ordered a CID probe into the mysterious damage of Bethukandi dyke which has caused massive flood in Silchar town. On Friday Sarma visited Silchar, thrice in eleven days, and stated that strictest measures would be taken against those involved in the damage of the dyke in Bethukandi area in Silchar town. Additional DGP of CID would lead the investigation and suspects would be summoned to Guwahati for interrogation, Sarma added. Cachar SP Ramandeep Kaur had lodged an FIR in the incident, informing this the Chief Minister said, till now names of six persons had been marked who were involved in the dyke breach.

On Friday, Sarma first made a trip to Shonbeal in Karimganj district. He visited the flood hit area and talked to people who took shelter in relief camp. Later speaking to the media, Sarma said, Karimganj people have no complaint regarding relief, however people of Shonbeal, mostly the fishermen community, were worried as flood has caused massive loss to their fisheries.

After a review meeting here at Silchar, the Chief Minister said, the flood ravaged town is now limping back to normalcy gradually as the water level of Barak river had for the first time in the recent spate of flood come down below danger level. "Right now 12 pumps are being used to flush our stagnant water. Tomorrow 20 more pumps from Guwahati will reach and flushing out water in ten per cent area of the town would take a single day," Sarma informed. Power supply had almost reached its normal position as only 22 transformers were left to be charged till now. Sarma said, he would personally take up with the BSNL for restoration of mobile network though private providers service had been normalised.

Informing that 24 persons had died in the current flood, the Chief Minister said, an ex-gratia compensation of Rs four lakh would be given to the bereaved families. On Friday, he handed over cheques to ten families. Sarma said, his two Cabinet colleagues Parimal Suklabaidya and Jayanta Malla Baruah Principal Secretary Kalyan Chakraborty would oversee the relief operation.

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