GUWAHATI, June 29: A potentially tragic situation was averted as prompt response from the 12th Battalion of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) helped rescue 24 civilians, including women, children and infants, who were stranded in the swollen Dikari river in Dhemaji district.
“Upon receiving an emergency requisition from the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Dhemaji, at 12:45 pm, an NDRF rescue team immediately rushed from Jonai with specialised flood rescue equipment. Battling the challenging river conditions, the team reached the stranded civilians and carried out a safe and systematic evacuation,” officials said.
The operation, conducted in close coordination with the district administration and local police, led to the rescue of 24 persons, including nine men, eight women, five children and two infants, with no loss of life or injuries.
Safety advisory
The Lower Siang district administration in Arunachal Pradesh has issued a safety advisory to residents of the district following a massive landslide that has completely blocked the flow of the Siji River (Gai Nadi) at Siji-Magi Block Point, creating a temporary natural dam.
“This poses an extremely serious and life-threatening situation. If the blockage suddenly collapses, it could trigger a powerful flash flood without warning, endangering lives, homes, livestock, roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure downstream,” an official statement said.
“All residents of Lower Siang district, especially those in Likabali, villages along the Siji river (Gai Nadi), and downstream areas in neighbouring Assam, are advised to remain on high alert and follow official advisories at all times,” it said.
Residents have been also urged to stay away from the riverbanks and avoid unnecessary travel near the river; evacuate low-lying and flood-prone areas if advised by the authorities; move to safer locations at short notice and immediately report any sudden rise in water level, unusual sounds, or signs of the blockage weakening to the nearest administrative or police authority.
