Assam flood situation worsens, IAF rescues 13 fishermen stuck in Dibrugarh floods
- In Reports
- 09:33 PM, Jul 02, 2024
- Myind Staff
The flood situation in Assam remains critical with significant impacts across 20 districts due to the second wave of flooding this year. Over 6.71 lakh people have been affected, and major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, are flowing above danger levels in various areas. Heavy to very heavy rainfall alerts are active in several districts, exacerbating the situation.
In response to the crisis, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted a rescue operation to evacuate 13 stranded fishermen from the severely affected Hatia Ali area in Dibrugarh district. This operation was initiated following a request from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). ASDMA has confirmed that all costs associated with the airlift operation will be covered by them. The ongoing floods in Assam underscore the urgent need for continued relief efforts and proactive measures to mitigate the impact on affected communities.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) shared images related to the rescue mission on X, stating that they successfully rescued 13 stranded individuals from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra River, north of Dibrugarh in Assam. According to their post on social media, on July 2, 2024, a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari conducted the rescue operation under challenging weather conditions after a sunrise takeoff. The pilot and flight gunner coordinated effectively to ensure the safe and prompt evacuation of the survivors from the marshy land.
Additionally, the IAF provided emergency first aid to the rescued individuals following the operation. On June 30th, the Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted another successful rescue operation, this time rescuing 8 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and a revenue official from Jonai in Dhemaji district. They were stranded in a sandbar area during relief operations.
Dibrugarh district has been severely affected by the ongoing floods, with the major town in Upper Assam submerged for the sixth consecutive day.
According to a bulletin by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a total of 671,167 people across 67 revenue circles in 20 districts are affected by floodwaters. The districts include Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Darrang, Chirang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Majuli, Karimganj, Tamulpur, Tinsukia, and Nalbari. Over the past 24 hours, one fatality has been reported, bringing the total death toll from this year's floods, storms, and landslides to 46.
The Brahmaputra River has exceeded the danger mark at several points including Neamatighat (Jorhat), Tezpur (Sonitpur), Guwahati (Kamrup), and Dhubri (Dhubri). Other major rivers also flowing above the danger level include Subansiri at Badatighat (Lakhimpur), Burhidihing at Chenimari (Dibrugarh), Dikhou at Sivasagar, Disang at Nanglamuraghat (Sivasagar), Dhansiri at Numakigarh (Golaghat), Jia-Bharali at NT Road Crossing (Sonitpur), Kopili at Kampur (Nagaon), Puthimari at NH Road Crossing (Kamrup), Beki at Barpeta Road Bridge, Dhaleswari at Hailakandi, Kushiyara at Karimganj, and Barak river at BP Ghat.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the Regional Meteorological Centre at Borjhar, Guwahati, has issued an alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall expected in Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao. Currently, 8,142 people are seeking shelter in 72 relief camps across various affected districts.
NDRF teams have been deployed in several districts including Cachar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Golaghat, Majuli, and Lakhimpur for relief and rescue operations. They are joined by SDRF, fire and emergency services personnel, police forces, and ASDMA's AAPDA Mitra Volunteers to assist district administrations in flood-affected areas. Additionally, Indian Army personnel are actively involved in relief operations in Golaghat district. A total of 614 SDRF personnel, including 159 deep divers, along with 295 boats, are operating across 54 locations to aid in rescue efforts.
Recent reports indicate breaches in embankments in Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Majuli districts within the past 24 hours. Damage to infrastructure, such as roads, has also been reported, as per updates from the ASDMA bulletin.
In Kaziranga National Park, a significant portion of the park's infrastructure is affected by flooding. Specifically, 95 out of the 233 forest camps in the park have been inundated. To manage the situation, the Golaghat district administration has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). These orders restrict vehicular traffic movement on NH-37 (New NH-715) and mandate vehicles to maintain speeds between 20 to 40 km/hour in the affected areas. These measures are aimed at ensuring safety and minimising disruption during the flooding period in Kaziranga National Park.
Image Source: Metro Vaartha
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