Erosion and flood
Erosion protection work at Jamugurighat in Lakhimpur's Dhalpur area. Image credit - Northeast Now

Flood situation in Lakhimpur district worsened on Saturday with all major rivers and the Brahmaputra are flowing above the danger level at various places in the district.

According to the district water resources department at North Lakhimpur, the Brahmaputra is flowing above danger level (80.17 meters/79.30 meters) at Jamuguri in Dhalpur on Saturday.

Subansiri, the largest tributary of the Brahmaputra, has been flowing above the danger level at Dhalghat, Ghancharai and Silikhaguri.

Other major rivers like Ranganadi, Dikrong, Durpang, Sesa, Singra, Pabha, Kakoi and Bogeenadi have also been touching almost the danger level at various places in the district.

Apart from the rain which has been lashing the district in the last couple of days, release of dam water by North East Electrical Power Corporation’s (NEEPCO) 500 MW Ranganadi Hydro Electrical Power plant at Yazali in Arunachal Pradesh in river Ranganadi worsened the flood situation in Lakhimpur district.

Till 12.30 pm on Saturday, NEEPCO’s RHEP released dam water eight times, starting from 5.30 in the morning.

Along with floods created by the overflowing rivers, the bank erosion has also affected many areas in Lakhimpur district for more than a week.

Erosion
Erosion by Subansiri at Na-Ali in Lakhimpur’s Telahi area. Image credit – Northeast Now
Erosion by Subansiri at Na-Ali in Lakhimpur’s Telahi area. Image credit – Northeast Now

Massive erosion by the Brahmaputra in No. 3 Check dyke in Bonpuroi-Latabari village in Jamugurighat since early June continues unabated despite placing of rock-spars by the Bihpuria sub-divisional water resources department.

The department has placed six rock-spars in a bid to contain the bank erosion but the initiative has been proved futile.

River Subansiri is also causing erosion in Bhimpora, Telahi, Na-Ali areas of Lakhimpur district.

Erosion by the river is pausing a major threat to Bhimpora-Na-Ali embankment.

So far, flood in Lakhimpur district has affected 510 hectares of agricultural land under eight revenue circles affecting Ahoo paddy and seedlings of the new season.

Farhana Ahmed is Northeast Now Correspondent in North Lakhimpur. She can be reached at: [email protected]