Assam: DC reviews flood situation in Hailakandi district

Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli said the objective of the meeting was to take stock of the prevailing situation and to adopt necessary measures for dealing with the flood situation…

Hailakandi

In view of worsening of flood situation in Hailakandi district of Assam following incessant rainfall for the past several days and all the major rivers flowing above the danger level, the district administration held a meeting with the officials concerned of various departments to review flood situation here on Monday.

Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli said the objective of the meeting was to take stock of the prevailing situation and to adopt necessary measures for dealing with the flood situation in the district. She said the departments were asked  to carry out rescue works in flood-vulnerable areas adjoining the two rivers — Katakhal and Dhaleswari — besides low lying areas where rainwater accumulate during rainy season.

Jalli instructed the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) from where the rivers pass to make plans to ensure safety and security of the people living near these rivers. She asked the officials to prepare a list of vulnerable villages and identify the places where they could be shifted in emergency.

Jalli directed officials to keep a close watch over the flood situation and to respond immediately to the distress calls of the affected. A 24×7 control room has been set up by the administration.

The Deputy Commissioner asked the officials of water resources department to plug the breaches  and to strengthen the embankments. “Take whatever steps are needed for strengthening the embankments. No stone is to be left unturned, ” she said.

Two major breaches in embankments built by the water resources department and one by panchayat and rural development department have occurred in the district.

Teams from the health department, public health engineering department, veterinary department and civic bodies had been asked to gear up to meet any kind of emergency. The administration has also stored essential ration goods and fodder in sufficient stock.

Medical teams have fanned out to several flood hit areas and medicine distributed to the affected people. Four veterinary camps have been set up to provide treatment to the affected livestock numbering 22,625.

District Project Officer of District Disaster Management Authority, Rupjoy Maibangsa, said personnel of the SDRF and fire & emergency services rescued 105 marooned people from Porbogal and other areas and moved them to safer places. “The SDRF and fire and emergency services personnel are kept on high alert to deal with any exigency. Around 60 country boats have been deployed for shifting stranded people to safer places,” he added.

Sufficient boats and rescue teams are kept in readiness to tackle the situation if it turns critical. The district administration is working round the clock to provide food, chemical packets, water pouch and other relief materials to the flood victims.

86 villages under Hailakandi, Algapur, Lala and Katlicherra revenue circles are submerged under flood waters affecting 3,150 people.1,652 hectares of cropped area have been damaged affecting 20,819 farm families.

One person died due to drowning at Sunacherra Bagan under Katlicherra revenue circle on Saturday.

Several roads and culverts have been either submerged or damaged by the flood waters. The Silchar-Hailakandi Road (SH 39) remains closed to vehicular traffic due to inundation at several points for the second day today.