GUWAHATI: The Assam Inland Water Transport department is closely monitoring the “rising” water level of the Brahmaputra in Guwahati and Dibrugarh divisions where ferries are still operational.
As on Monday evening, the Central Water Commission, which provides regular updates on the water levels to the department, has recorded the level at 47.78 metres.
Sources in the department informed that ferry services are suspended once the water level crosses 49.68metres.
“So, as of today, we have less than two metres for the water level to reach the danger mark. After it crosses 49.68metres, we will have no option but to suspend ferry services under Guwahati division,” an official told The Shillong Times on Monday.
However, services in two ghats – Pandu (Amingaon) and Madhyamkhanda (North Guwahati) have been “temporarily suspended” owing to high water current and a submerged approach road.
“Apart from the water level, the presence of foreign elements and matter such as broken branches, plantain or twigs floating on the river surface, generally carried when rivers are in spate, is also being monitored by our officials stationed at the ghats. Such elements can obstruct the path of a ferry and cause a mishap at times,” he said.
The department had last Wednesday suspended all the 21 ferry services under Silchar division in Barak Valley as a precautionary measure after the major rivers were flowing above danger level.
There are 51 ghats under Guwahati division and 25 ghats under Silchar division. Over 50,000 people ply on ferries operating under the two ghats every day, IWT department sources said.
At least eight major rivers are flowing above the danger level and others still rising with the southwest monsoon covering most parts of the state and heavy rainfall occurring in most areas.