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Flood Situation update Dhemaji 11th July 2005

Background: 

Last three days precipitation in this part of the country at the upper reaches of Brahmaputra River and its tributaries has flooded a huge area of the District. The whole situation is not at all in conformity with the situation in previous years. In the other years (1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, and 2004) due to breaches on the embankment of Brahmaputra, the District Dhemaji reels under devastating flood but this year no breaches has so far developed on the embankment of Brahmaputra or in it’s tributaries yet a huge area of the District is reeling under severe flood situation. The situation reflects that intensive water logging/inundation affecting both the paddy field as well as human habitat and erosion in the areas/villages on the bank of the tributaries of Brahmaputra is the basic character of the present wave of flood. The other characteristic of the present wave of flood as quoted by the community is carrying of huge sediment load by the rivers which is probably due to softening of the river beds at upper reaches due to extraction and mining of boulders from the same.

The Mechanism working: 

          The whole situation (intensive water logging and erosion) is due to intensive human intervention on the upper reaches of the rivers and huge construction of structures (bridges, roads etc) on the run-off water system. The huge extraction and mining of boulders from the upper reaches of the rivers (Simen, Demow, Jalakiashuti, Gai, Jiadhal etc have increased the current of the rivers manifold leading to intensive erosion both on the upper reaches as well as on the bank line on plains. The other phenomenon is intensive construction of roads, bridges on the run off water system with very little openings to maintain the natural flow/drainage  of water has inundated huge areas of Jonai Block, Sissiborgaon Block and Dhemaji Block of Dhemaji District.

The overall communication in the District Dhemaji during the present wave of flood:

          The NH 52 which connects Dhemaji District with rest of the country through roadways has been breached at 2 points due to massive erosion by the Sili River at Santipur Village, Demow and Jalakiashuti River at Silashuti thereby cutting-off Jonai Sub-division as well as a huge area of Sissiborgaon Block (Dhemaji Sub-Division) with rest of the country through roadways. Similarly, the River Jiadhal has caused severe damage to the NH 52 at two points at Samarajan thereby causing great threat to the roadways connectivity of the District with rest of the country.

The areas reeling under flood: A general overview

          Water level: A huge area of Sissiborgaon Block and Dhemaji Block of Dhemaji District is reeling under flood. Water level within the villages in number of villages in Simenmukh panchayat, Silashuti Panchayat, Muktiyaar panchayats, Akajan Panchayat, Kulajan Panchayat, Ujoni Sissi Tongani Panchayat, Madhya Sissi Tongani Panchayat, Sripani Panchayat and Moridhal panchayat has raised up to 8-10 feet inundating the homestead/raised stilts, plunging the people of the areas into inhuman living environment.

          Damage to crops: People practicing AHU (early variety) cultivation have faced a jolt as they have not completed harvesting and the impact of the sudden disastraeous condition will damage a huge lot of standing AHU crops. In the other hand the people practicing Sali crops (Monsoon variety) have either completed the transplanting of seed or yet to do the same have been come under great threat out of the intensive inundation and water logging in the paddy fields. The other critical aspect is sand deposition on the paddy fields which will be more clearly understood in coming days. All though damage to standing crops or transplanted seed is yet to be assesed by the Government Department but the pathetic scene of huge areas(paddy fields) reeling under 6-8 feet logged water give a clear scene on the expected outcome of the hard toil put in by the agro based families of the areas.     

          Damage to houses: Intensive current of the rivers, continuous rising of the water level and breaking down of the communication system has made it impossible to get the total stock of damage to houses in the remote villages but damage to houses has been reported from the Silashuti, Muktiyaar, Ujoni Sissi Tongani and Madhya Sissi Tongani Panchayats.

          Sufferings of livestock: Although no report has been so far reached on death of livestock yet dire crisis has been realized in every village under intensive inundation on safe shelter and stead for the cattle. It has been seen that the people of the affected villages has moved their cattle to safer places(embankment, raised platforms, high roads including the NH 52.Although safer shelter stead has been ensured to the cattle but lack of shelter shed is the prominent area of crisis.

          Status of safe drinking water: Inundation of the existing drinking water sources has created the crisis of safe drinking water in the intensive inundated villages of Simenmukh Panchayat, Silashuti Panchayat, Muktiyaar Panchayat, Ujoni Sissi Tongani Panchayat, and Madhya Sissi Tongani Panchayat.

Affect of Simen River:

Affect of Demow River and Jalakiashuti River:

Affect of Tongani River:

Affect of Gai River: