Sixteen villages in Golaghat district of Upper Assam were inundated on Monday after the Dhansiri crossed its danger level following incessant rains in the upstream areas and the opening of radial gates of Doyang hydroelectric project in Wokha district of Nagaland.
A report published in the The Telegraph stated that the villages submerged by the fresh floods are Dukhutimukh, No 1 Koiborta, Amguri, Basapathar, Sutatani, Naharkhana, Mising Gaon, Rajghar, Rajghar Khatkhati, Butolikhowa Tup, No 1 Butolikhowa, Leteku Chapari, Bogorioni, Hautoli Habi, Parghat Gaon, Kathkotia and Bholaguri.
The report further stated that about 4,950 people have been affected, of whom 815 people are in the relief camps. The flood damaged 117.75 hectares of agricultural land. The Golaghat district administration has opened four relief camps and two distribution centres to provide the affected people with food and other required materials.
Heavy rain in the upstream catchment area of the hydroelectric project, built over the Doyang, had on Monday raised the water level in its reservoirs. As a result, the water level of the dam exceeded its danger level of 324 metres by 0.1 metre.
The North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited (NEEPCO) authorities had opened all the four radial gates by 0.50m on Monday. As a result, the Dhansiri, of which Doyang is a tributary, flowed 0.90m above its danger level of 78.42m at Numaligarh. NEEPCO said one of the gates was closed on Tuesday as the water level of the dam had receded to 323.80m, 0.2m below the danger level.
The water level of the Dhansiri, is, however, rising. On Tuesday, it was flowing at 74.43m – 0.57m below the danger level – at Dhansirimukh, where the river meets the Brahamaputra. The Golaghat District Disaster Management Authority said Bokakhat, a town in Golaghat, had received 36 mm rainfall in the last 24 hours. Dhansiri is the main river of Golaghat district and Dimapur district of Nagaland. It originates from Laisang peak of Nagaland and flows 352 km south to north before joining the Brahmaputra at Dhansirimukh.