From Our Correspondent
GUWAHATI: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has deployed four well equipped teams of personnal for relief and rescue operations in worst flood affected districts of Assam where over two lakh people have so far been affected due to year’s first wave of flood.
The floods so far claimed four persons in worst affected Dhemaji and Lakhimpur districts in North-eastern Assam.
The NDRF control room here informed that flood relief and rescue operations in districts of Lakhimpur, Dhubri, Sonitpur and Jorhat have been assisted by the force by deploying one team in each of these districts while one team has been on vigil on the stretch of Brahmaputra River in Guwahati.
Three more teams of the NDRF are ready for deployment in flood-hit areas within short notice from the administration. Each of these NDRF teams have 45 personnel each.
Flood situation in Northern and eastern districts of Assam have turned worse after rain-fed river Brahmaputra River and its tributaries like Jia Bharali, Disang, Ranganadi and Dhansiri are flowing above danger level so far inundating over 300 villages including 200 villages in the worst affected Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts.
According to Additional Deputy Commissioner of Lakhimpur district, R Gupta over one lakh people from about 90 villages of Lakhimpur and Naoboicha revenue circles have been hit by the deluge .
About 40 relief materials distribution centres have been set up in the district to provide succor to the flood-hit.
Over 15 villages in Sonitpur district of North Assam have been affected by the current wave of flood which has affected surface communication in parts f the state.
Flood waters have over topped National High 52 in Lakhimpur district and National Highway 37 in Jorhat district.
Movement of rhinos, elephants and other animals has been noticed in the famous Kaziranga National Park (KNP) where back flow of Brahmaputra water through Difloo stream has inundated a vast swath of land.
A senior Park official said at least six one-horned rhinos and a herd of elephant from the Park have crossed the NH 37 to neighbouring hills of Karbi Anglong hills to escape the flood much to the alarm of the wildlife protection staff. The district administration has imposed Section 144 CrPC along the entire stretch through the Park to protect flood-hit animals moving on the busy highway.
Road barricades and signage have been put up at ten points along the stretch to control the speed of vehicles on the highway.
The Park authority has pooled in additional 150 forest personnel to gear up vigil against poachers on the prowl during flood time whole NGOs engaged in wildlife protection have been put on an alert.