June to September, 2007September 18, 2007: Barak Valley in the Southern part of Assam has been affected due to heavy rain and flooding for the third time now since June 2007. About 5-6 lakhs of people in about 900 villages were badly affected in all the three districts namely Cachar, Hailakandi and Karimganj and the adjoining states (Mizoram, Manipur and Tripura). National Highways 44 (Shillong-Silchar-Agartala), 53 (Silchar- Imphal) & 54 (Hailakandi) were badly disrupted including railway tracts (4-5 kms in Salchapra-Arunachal) snapping communication to Silchar from the rest of the country.
The major rivers, Barak, Khusiara and Langai in three districts are affected and are running above danger level (2 - 3 mtrs). Bridges, embankments, bands and culverts were badly damaged. It is reported that there are hundreds of houses damaged and roads blocked due to heavy rainfall and landslides in the hilly areas bordering Manipur and Mizoram. The sanitary condition of the temporary shelters were in very bad shape. Schools and colleges in the higher grounds were used as temporary shelter or relief camps/centres affecting even the regular sessions in the schools and colleges in the districts.
Tea industries are also affected due to the flood this year as many factories in Hailakandi district (Lala) and Cachar (Binnakandi) are under water causing damages worth about crores. Government has been requested to not to impose 29 paise tax on raw tea leaves per kg due to damages incurred due to floods.
Regular production was heavily affected in Hindustan Paper Corporation at Panchgram (the second largest paper industry in Asia) as majority of employees from Silchar, Hailakandi and Karimganj could not travel to the factory due to road blocks for weeks.
Some part of the national highways Silchar-Agartala, Silchar-Imphal as well as Silchar-Aizawl road has been cut off from regular communication due to landslide and flood water flowing more than 600ml over the road.
The only road to airport from Silchar via Udharband to Kumbhirgram airport was under water for more than 10 days. Passengers were travelling by boats to cross about 2-3kms. People from nearby affected villages are taking shelter on the roads due to lack of government facilities.
Relief Operation:
The floods have so far affected a population of 70.15 lakh in 6,412 villages in 26 districts in the State. A total of 75 relief camps have been opened in which 11,288 people have been accommodated.
Since government relief distribution was not sufficient, many clubs are coming forward to provide food items through the relief camps. Water borne and skin diseases including dehydration are the major health problems in the flood affected areas. Some areas district health authorities took initiative for distribution of free medicines.
Burrows Memorial Christian Hospital (BMCH) in partnership with Disaster Management & Mitigation Unit in EHA central office already pressed into medical health camp targeting 50 villages in a month beginning with Banskandi and Binnakandi Blocks in the district. Due to road damages and flood water, the medical team was initially unable to approach the most remote villages. In addition to health check up (general and antenatal), free medicines and health teachings are major activities of the medical camp.
Food relief packets would be provided to 3000 families in the most affected areas by BMCH.
Army was pressed for rescue as well as relief operations in Hailakandi and Cachar districts. It was reported that about 44 houses were damaged while food packets were airdropped in Dholai and Dalu villages (bordering Aizawl).
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