Fresh flooding threatens northeast India
ITANAGAR, 14 July 2012 (TNN) – A fresh wave of floods has threatened several districts of Arunachal Pradesh with reports of disruption in surface communication pouring in from various parts of the state. According to the latest report, the rising water level of Kadang Korong River is creating havoc at Mebo sub-division in East Siang district. A major portion of Siku bridge near Mebo along the Pasighat-Dhola road has already been washed away by floodwaters, snapping road communication along the route. However, the bridge has been temporarily repaired with some iron plates and light vehicles are now plying on it. The river between Motum Tinali and Ngopok village is flowing above the danger level due to heavy rain and is getting diverted from its normal course, creating immense trouble to the people of Mongu-Banggo (Lower Mebo) and Lower Dibang Valley’s downward villages along the Mebo-Dhola road. Efforts are on to mend the damages with the PWD authorities pressing into service two JCBs which are being monitored by local MLA Ralom Borang. Fresh floods have once again threatened the Tezu township in Lohit district due to the swelling Tezu Nallah, which has already washed away a 700-metre temporary earthen embankment erected by the water resources department (WRD) using river bed materials (RBM) at 5km point towards Shivajinagar road. “Following incessant rains during the last two days, Tezu Nallah has almost made its way to the township and it could have created havoc, but the department swung into action on time and diverted the course of the river after a four-hours massive fight,” informed S K Srivastava, assistant engineer WRD. Meanwhile, food scarcity looms large in Dibang Valley district following disruption of road communication due to the recent floods. According to an official report here today, there are also shortages of all essential commodities in the market as per a random survey conducted. While vegetables markets ran out of stock, the price of petrol shot up to Rs 250 per litre. Of the six food sorties approved, only two relief sorties could be materialized. The district continued to remain cut off from the rest of the state for more than a month. Kanchi Nallah Bailey Bridge, which was washed away by flash floods, was restored, bringing some respite to the people of Anini by cutting a diversion road adjacent to the old abutments. The diversion is of purely temporary nature constructed to tide over the present communication crises. “This was possible because of efforts put in by BRO,” official sources said. The Anini-Roing road remained cut off at numerous places. The restoration work of Endulin-Nallah block point got disrupted due to heavy downpour over the last two days while Deopani nallah was flowing above the danger level according to official reports from Roing. On the other hand, Upper Siang district plunged into darkness in the last two days following disruption of power supply due to flood and landslides. […]
