Heavy rains in Northeast states trigger flash flood, landslides

Over 4 lakh marooned in Assam

Guwahati, July 11 (IANS): With flood waters inundating over 700 villages in 17 districts and affecting over 4 lakh people in Assam, state Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday reviewed the prevailing flood situation and asked Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and other officials to remain fully alert for tackling the situation.

Noting that people in distress must get adequate care and response, the Chief Minister asked the DCs to activate 24×7 control rooms for immediate response to the flood situation in their districts. He enquired about the status of relief camps, distribution of relief material to marooned people and measures adopted for safety and security of animals in the flood-affected districts.

The Chief Minister also asked the Deputy Commissioners to update their stocks of medicines in the hospitals and ensure availability of doctors. He also asked them to take steps for adequate care for animals affected by floods and arrange fodder for them.

Moreover, in view of spurt of Japanese encephalitis and malaria cases, the Chief Minister directed the health department functionaries to collect blood sample of relief camp inmates to contain the diseases.

Underlining the importance of prompt action by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel in rescue operations, the Chief Minister asked the DCs to remain in close touch with concerned district administrations where the teams are currently being stationed.

He also directed the police to carry out regular patrolling in flood affected areas to ensure the safety and security of property of the flood-hit people.

Sonowal further asked the state Power Department to take all necessary measures to prevent incidents of electrocution which may occur owing to negligence of departmental officials.

Besides, in case of any casualty by floods, he directed the DCs to immediately release the one-time financial assistance to the next of kin of the victim.

Apart from reviewing the present situation of inundation at the Kaziranga and Manas National Parks, the Chief Minister took stock of the preparedness of the Kamrup (Metro) district administration in responding to incidents of landslide in the district.

In view of several such incidents in Guwahati in the past causing loss of many lives, Sonowal asked the DC and Assam State Disaster Management Authority to identify all landslide-prone areas and sensitise the local people to vacate such places to avert any mishap.=

Landslides hit normal life in Arunachal

Landslides, triggerred by incessant rains over the past couple of days in, have disrupted road communication in several parts of Arunachal Pradesh and hit normal life, official sources said Thursday.

The Bhalukpong-Charduar-Tawang road in West Kameng district had remained closed for the fifth day on Thursday due to massive landslides at several stretches of the road.

The district administration has advised commuters to avoid travelling through the road and to take a detour through the Orang-Kalaktang-Shergaon-Rupa-Tenga (OKSRT) road, the sources said.

The Lower Dibang Valley district is on the verge of getting cut off from the rest of the state after several stretches of the Roing-Anini Road were damaged due to landslides, an official report said.

The report also said that the road between Ruksin and Mirem-Bilat area in East Siang district has been cut off after the Sille river washed away the abutment of the Niglok Bailey Bridge Wednesday and flood water damaged 16 houses in Ngorlung village.

Landslides and flash floods due to heavy downpour have wreaked havoc in the capital complex too.

The traffic along national highway-415 between Itanagar and Naharlagun was halted due to overflow of rainwater over the road, another official report said.

The water level in Pare river is on the rise, forcing residents on both banks to evacuate to safer places, a report from Doimukh said.

Rain batters Meghalaya, throws life out of gear

Incessant rainfall for the past five days has triggered flash floods and landslides in several places in Meghalaya, causing damage to infrastructure and crippling normal life, officials said on Thursday.

A number of water bodies are flowing above the danger level, and district administrations have been asked to set up emergency operation centres for prompt response, Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Kyrmen Shylla told PTI.

Shylla said the regional met department has also issued an alert for heavy rainfall in the next two-three days.

East Khasi Hills District Deputy Commissioner Matsiewdor War Nongbri said a flood-like situation has emerged in various low-lying areas, due to water logging.

Several villages in the district have been cut off from Shillong, as roads were damaged in a flash flood last weekend, she said.

Efforts are underway to clear the debris and restore normalcy, she said.

Sohra, (erstwhile Cherrapunjee) received nearly 1,000 mm of rainfall in the past four days, a met department official said.

The situation is also grim in most places of the West Garo Hills District, with many rivers flowing above the danger mark and people living in low-lying areas advised to evacuate, a state disaster management official said.

Attendance in schools, colleges and offices has been thin, while markets wore an almost deserted look, in the past few days, the officials said.