TURA, AUG 25: At least 1 lakh 20,000 thousand people in the three districts of Garo hills in Meghalaya have been affected by the flood. The worst hit is plain belt areas of West Garo hills district where about 1, 17,292 residents people remained affected.
West Garo hills deputy commissioner Pravin Bakshi on Monday declared flood in the plain belt areas.
Most villages in Rajabala, Bhaitbari, Phulbari and Chibinang are under the grip of flood as Brahmaputra and its tributary – Jinjiram River is flowing above danger level. People have relocated themselves to higher grounds and schools.
“Disaster management teams have already come back with their findings and floods have been declared. We are looking at ways to ensure things are handled properly”, Bakshi said..
A report by the district administration of West Garo Hills indicated that 92 villages in Selsella have been severely affected, whereas 30 villages have been partially affected. “Many villages under Tikrikilla block have been partially affected”, said Bakshi.
Incessant rains since August 11 till now has led to rising levels of water in Brahmaputra and Jinjiram River, which flows through plain belt areas of West Garo Hills.
Food and civil supplies minister Clement Marak took stock of the flood hit areas on Sunday.
Bakshi said that the district administration has decided to extend gratuitous relief to the fully submerged villages for five days and three days to partially submerged villages.
32,000 houses have been partially or fully submerged and a total of 142 villages in the entire district have been affected, of which 17,407 households have been severely affected and 5200 partially affected.
Bakshi said early warning on flood was issued on August 14 about low intensity flood and the situation was under very close watch for the past one week.
Bakshi also informed that agriculture department has already done a preliminary assessment of the damage to crops. 1550 hectares of sali paddy crop has submerged affecting 1580 households in 57 villages.
The Majhipara-Solartek embankment has breached which is attributed as one of the major cause for the flood. Bakshi said that there is breach from chainage 4120 m to 4620 m.
“All steps are being taken to repair but rising water of Jinjiram is posing hurdles. Other line departments have also been alerted and surveys for damages assessment will be done. PHE department has been asked to arrange for drinking water and sanitation needs. The emergency operations centre of Tura has been activated. Boats are being requisitioned for evacuation if needed in Phulbari”, Bakshi added.
In East Garo Hills and South Garo Hills, the rising water levels of Simsang River has affected Williamnagar and Baghmara town.- From Our Correspondent
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