Combating flood damages: DC hosts meet on preparedness

TEZU, Jun 28: As part of ‘flood damage control’ measures in the district, Lohit deputy commissioner R K Sharma called an emergency meeting at his office chamber here today with all the heads of department, administrative officers, police as well as paramilitary forces.
Expressing serious concern at the recent havoc in Uttarakhand, the DC said that we have already gone through similar experience during last year’s monsoon flood in our area. Though the magnitude of damage was much lower here, we cannot take the rain for granted, he felt and instructed all the departments to be in readiness with their men and machineries to face the wrath of flash flood if there be any.
All the work departments, police and paramilitary forces have also been alerted.
The DC also instructed every sector officers to take care of their respective sectors and to inform the District Disaster Management Cell in case of any sign of danger in water flow in their area. Constant verification will help in timely diversion of the water at the earliest, he said.
Every one of us has to be in readiness and be prepared to render immediate relief and rehabilitation measures in the area, he added.
Earlier, there were reports of water flowing above the danger level in Tafragam, Changiang and Duraliang villages which has now receded. TB-Hayuliang-Kamlang road was also affected by the rainfall.
Meanwhile, the Alubari Ghat remained cut off till the latest report. Electricity and water supply were also affected which, however, have been restored without much damage. (DIPRO)
Our correspondent adds: The continuous downpour for last three days has caused flood at Changliang village affecting seven govt quarters besides completely damaging the forest range office.
The flash flood also left behind huge debris with silt stretching approximately twenty hectares of cultivable land, leaving it completely in barren state.
The affected families have been temporarily shifted to their respective relative’s quarters. However, no causalities have been reported so far.
Sources at Water Resource Department informed that sudden diversion of the Dhoranallah river course aggravated the situation. Later, the river has been re-diverted to its original course after improvement in weather condition.
“Excavator was pressed to divert the course temporarily but the river required proper guide wall including spur to seal the river permanently. A minimum fund of Rs 10 lakh is immediately required to avoid future threat of this river,” said Er A K Shrivastava AE, WRD.