Flash floods in Assam, 30,000 affected

Tezpur/Dhemaji (Assam), Jul 5 (PTI) Incessant rains in
parts of northeastern Indian state Assam and upper reaches of
neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh have caused flash floods in
Sonitpur and Dhemaji districts affecting nearly 30,000 people,
officials said Tuesday.
Continuous rains for last two days in Sonitpur
district's Tezpur sub-division has inundated vast riverine
areas and damaged standing crops at Dalabari, Besseria,
Parbatia, Panchmile, Koroiyani and Rajbharal, they said.
Fed by the rains in Arunachal Pradesh along its
course, the Brahmaputra and its tributaries were rising
alarmingly towards the danger level in the district.
Rivers Jiabhorali at Khalihamari and Gabharu near
NH-52 with other major tributaries were also rising.
The overflowing waters of Brahmaputra and its branch
rivers Borgang and Burigang submerged vast areas in Biswanath
and Gohpur sub-divisions, they said.
Flooding the low-lying areas, the waters overtopped
the National Highway linking Tezpur and North Lakhimpur at
three places between Balipara and Gohpur.
In Dhemaji district, the rains caused river
Subansiri's tributary Jiadhal to be in spate and flood
adjoining areas in about 25 villages in west Dhemaji.
The worst affected villages are Kesukhona, Nepalisuti
and Rotua.
The situation in Dhemaji was compounded by breaching
of a temporary mud dam for diverting water of the Subansiri
built during construction of the Lower Subansiri Hydro
Electric Power Project, they said.