HT Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, July 2: The Indian Air Force rescued 13 fishermen trapped in the middle of a sandbar in the Brahmaputra in Dibrugarh on Tuesday morning.
The Air Force team rescued them with a helicopter from the sandbar (locally known as chapori) in the Brahmaputra to the Mohanbari Air Force camp.
According to reports, the fishing team had been stranded in the middle of the Brahmaputra sandbar near Maijan in Dibrugarh for the past three days.
Although State Disaster Response Team (SDRF) personnel from Dibrugarh attempted to rescue them on Monday, they could not proceed further due to the strong current of the water of the river.
An official said a medical check-up of all the stranded people has been done, who were rescued from Charkhulia Chapori and Hatiali Chapori this morning. All are said to be safe.
The rescued fishermen have been identified as Ranjit Das, Cheniram Das, Bubu Das, Deba Das, Raju Nanda Das, Lakhindar Haluwai, Alo Namasudra, Sera Tamuli, Moina Das, Bukon Das, Swapan Namasudra and Papai Namasudra.
In Hatibondha area of Tengakhat in Dibrugarh district, the embankment of the Burhi Dihing river has breached. In Bhagamur area under the Dibrugarh West revenue circle, the water of the river has been flowing over the embankment.
On the other hand, a major crack has developed on the Gammon Bridge over the Burhi Dihing river near Khowang in Dibrugarh. One end of the bridge towards Dibrugarh from the Sivasagar side has sunk, raising the possibility of a catastrophic accident at any time. The movement of heavy vehicles is likely to be disrupted at any moment.
Dibrugarh MLA Prasanta Phukan informed that eight high powered pump were used to flush out rain water from Dibrugarh town.
The town has still under water for the seventh day and the residents are having a harrowing time. In many areas electricity connection has been snapped for more then 36-hours. People in many affected areas are reeling under shortage of drinking water.
Restoration work has been going on, but the power department has failed to provide electricity.
“For the past 36-hours, we are without electricity. We are having a tough time because we have no drinking water. If the electricity department restores the power connection for a while, we can use the water pump and store water in our tank,” said a resident.
State panchayat and rural development minister, Ranjeet Kumar Dass visited Dibrugarh to assess the flood situation Monday.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reviewed the flood situation in Dibrugarh over the phone. He has instructed the preparation of a road map by a high-level expert team for a permanent solution to the flood situation here.
Dass inspected Thana Chariali and H.S. Road areas affected by the artificial floods caused by recent heavy rainfall. During his visit, the minister discussed the current flood situation and the steps being taken with the district administration and municipal corporation officials.
Speaking to the media persons, he mentioned that the continuous heavy rainfall along with the filling up of natural water bodies has resulted in the unwanted artificial flood situation in the town.
He emphasised the urgent need for a comprehensive review to find a permanent solution to the artificial flood problem of the town.
The minister also conveyed that the chef minister, after reviewing the flood situation in Dibrugarh, has instructed the preparation of a road map by a high-level expert team for a permanent solution to the issue.
Dass urged the district commissioner and other officials to take all necessary measures.
