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 weeks 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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