[Assam] Flood scene grim in Dhemaji district (The Assam Tribune, 12.09.2007)

[Buljit Buragohain]

Dhemaji: The flood situation in the worst affected Dhemaji district remained grim with continuous rainfall for more than last ten days in the catchment areas. More than 1600 families were rendered homelss by the floods as their houses were either washed away or silted upto the windowpanes. Floods of Kumatia Jiadhal river have inundated more than 130 villages of Bordalani block of Dhemaji district and other villages of Ghilamara block of Lakhimpur district.

Thousands of hectres of croplands have been destroyed . With floods come various problems. Searcity of all items including essential items like rice, potato, petrol, diesel and cooking gas was severe in Dhemaji and a part of Arunachal Pradesh. Except for a week’s break, the rail line is okay and the passengers are taking the services of the two up and down trains. But the suppliers and authorities are reluctant to receive the services of railways, as a result of which people of the area have to suffer. For example about 10 years back, the postal department carried its goods in the railways. But now after the breach of the NH 52, the department took time to switch over again to the railway services suspending postal services in the district for about a forthnight. Likewise all essential goods could have been carried by the railways but this was not done. 

Meanwhile, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), in the midst of all odds is trying hard to restore road communication between Dhemaji and the rest of the State on NH 52 at Dihingia gaon point. After the July 12 breach, it restored road communication for two days to be washed away again. Road communication was restored again from September 8 last, but is now heavily threatened by the increasing level of water in Jiadhal river. 

Meanwhile, small vehicle owners like Tata Sumos, Boleros etc had a field day as they charged Rs 20 each for carrying one passenger from and to Gogamukh to Dihingia gaon and Dhemaji to Kumatia river, while the bus fare from Dhemaji to Gogamukh is Rs 14. But now bus fare from Dhemaji to Kumatia river is Rs 10. The Dihingia Gaon self-help group erected a bamboo bridge at the breach of Dihingia gaon point on NH 52. This was both a cause of solace and suffering for the flood affected people of the district. Crossing the river on bamboo bridge is far better at a charge of Rs 10 than crossing in a country boat at a charge of Rs. 30 to 50. 

More than 1600 families of Bordolani Bhakat Gaon, Dihingia Gaon, Kalita Gaon, Morolchuck etc are now living in NH 52, railway line and other dykes and high places. Their homes are either washed away or silted. The district administration has been providing all affected people of the district with relief materials. but there are complaints that relief materials have not been provided to all affected people. 

Besides rendering thousands of people homeless the floods also rendered unlimited damage to many roads and bridges of the district virtually crippling the road communication system. Among the worst affected roads are Moromi-Joyrampur, Bordalani- Padumani, Bordalani, Ghilamara to mention a few. 

The real worth of the damage caused by floods is yet to be ascertained but it should be of a few crores rupees. The Bordalani area was one of the oldest and cultured areas of the district. It will take many years to get back to the pre-flood condition for the people of the area. 

   
  (The Assam Tribune,12.09.2007)




       
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