Flood situation grim in Dhemaji; AASU demands compensation

LAKHIMPUR: The flood situation remains grim and unchanged in Dhemaji district. At present, a total of 286 revenue villages under three Revenue Circles (RC) of the district have been submerged by flood for a couple of days.

Of them, 212 villages under Jonai RC have been severely hit by the overflowing water of the rivers Lali and Siang while 42 villages under Sissi Borgaon RC have been affected by flood caused by the mighty Brahmaputra and River Gai. Similarly, River Jiadhol, which is regarded as the 'Sorrow of Dhemaji', has affected 32 villages under Dhemaji RC at present.

According to the report from Lohit Gogoi, the Project Officer of Dhemaji District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), a total of 96,209 people - 77,264 people under Jonai RC, 13,345 under Sissi Borgaon RC and 5,600 people under Dhemaji RC - have been affected by the present wave of flood in the district. He informed that three flood relief camps were opened at Murkongselek Girls' High School, Jonai HS School and Franslin School wherein there are 207 inmates. A total of three persons had already lost their lives in the district during the impact of the present deluge.

On Monday, the Dhemaji district unit of AASU distributed flood relief among 80 flood-affected families living under Amilguri No. 2 Gheyari (Sessasor) and Dulungkan villages. The Dhemaji district AASU extended a packet of rice, one litre mustard oil, potatoes and other essential items to the flood-affected families.

Attending the programme, AASU central committee vice-president Chitta Ranjan Basumatari demanded the Union and State governments for tagging the flood and erosion problem of Assam as national problem. He severely criticized the political leaders and former and present MLAs of Dhemaji and MP of Lakhimpur for not initiating any remarkable initiative to resolve the flood and erosion problem of Dhemaji permanently. He demanded to compensate the flood-affected families.

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