Naharlagun: With the flood situation aggravating in Arunachal Pradesh, a high level WRD Minister Newlai Tingkhatra-headed team, including PWD Minister Chowna Mein, WRD CE L Angu and DM DDMO E Tallang conducted aerial survey of Bordumsa subdivision in Changlang, Namsai circle and Tezu in Lohit besides taking stock of the situation from the officers.
About 1,45,538 people of 222 villages were affected by the flood, while 3,000 victims were sheltered in 19 relief camps, Lohit DC RK Sharma informed, adding that while surface communication, water and electricity are totally cut off for the last four days, massive losses that have been caused are yet to be assessed.
Half of Tezu township was inundated after Tezu Khola and Daming Nallah breached their embankments to enter the township and many government quarters and schools following an unprecedented rainfall of 452 mm on September 18, higher than 428 mm during 24 hours recorded in 2004 and a culvert along the main thoroughfare of the HQs was threatened by Daming nallah too, the DC said, adding schools and college have been declared closed. While fuel depots with limited stocks are closed for supply on emergency and a buffer stock of rice is available, he informed.
With the Tezu-Tinsukia road having been breached or washed away at 15 points between Tezu and Parsuram Kund point, the situation could deteriorate further as restoration of road communication would be delayed while all major rivers were in full spate, the DC apprehended. He said though relief and rehabilitation operations were on with the help of SP, 9th ITBP, 25th ITBP, 186th CRPF and 12th Assam Regiment but all rivers were in spate and the rainfall during last 24 hours stood at 380 mm.
Local MLA Kariko Kri, who has been constantly monitoring the situation and supervising rescue operation, pointed out that the elderly people have described the current flood unprecedented and untimely. Heavy flood used to occur in June, July and August but never experienced in September in the recent memory, Kri quoted them as saying, when the team inspected the waterlogged areas and quarters.
Low-flying thick clouds prevented an MI 17 IAF chopper around 9 am in conducting rescue mission to rescue unnumbered farmers marooned on treetops in New Danglat and Chikro villages near central Lohit river without food and water for the last two days. However, the DC later confirmed that the helicopter in two sorties rescued 39 while 20-30 were still stranded. The survivors, who thanked the GoAP, particularly CM Nabam Tuki, local MLA and district administration, were shifted to relief camp.
Tingkhatra handed over Rs 10 lakh immediate relief from the CM’s relief fund and announced a grant of Rs 10 lakh from the WRD. He lauded the officers for working with team spirit and directed them to take up urgent measures to protect lives and properties besides submitting the report of losses by the disaster management chairman. WRD EE MK Dobariyal informed that Rs 1,601 lakh and Rs 9, 265 lakh would be needed for immediate and new protection works respectively.
Altogether 180 and 500 people of Jona-I and Jona-IV, 100, 100, 30, 19 and 100 families of Jona-III, Jona Kachari, Munglang, Kinghom Jona and Tengapani under Lathao circle were shifted to six relief camps. Others who have been shifted to relief camps include 29, 10 and 6 families of Wingsong Nongtaw, Kasangkung and Wangunpather villages under Piyong circle; 45 families (300 people) of Alubari have been shifted to a relief camp, while 160 and 140 families of Morapat, Mabira and Mazgaon villagers under Chongkham circle are still stranded; and 16, 14 and 6 families of Dharampur, New Silatoo and Murti Camp under Lekang circle have been shifted to relief camp.
ANI
