Arunachal Pradesh continues to be on high alert after the level of the Siang river rose dramatically, but flowing below danger mark.
Pasighat / Itanagar / Dibrugarh
Arunachal Pradesh continues to be on high alert after the level of the Siang river rose dramatically as water overflowed from an artificial lake in neighbouring Tibet that had formed after a landslide blocked the river upstream where it is called Yarlung Tsangpo. However the water level is flowing below danger mark, said locals.
According to reports eight teams of the National Disaster Response Force landed at the Advance Landing Ground in Pasighat Saturday morning from Bhubaneswar.
At 9 am, the water levels stood at 151.4 metres at Pasighat in East Siang district and are expected to rise to 155.5 metres -1.5 metres above the danger mark, according to the central water commission.
Deputy Commissioner of Upper Siang, Duly Kamduk said no damage has been reported in the district. The water level in Siang fell by more than 8 metres by 7 am in Tuting even as it rose in Pasighat.
“River Siang at Tuting in Upper Siang Dist, Arunachal Pradesh has fallen by more than 8 m by 0700 hrs 20-10-2018 from the peak level attained during midnight on 19-10-2018. Hydrograph is appended,” the Commission said in a tweet.
The CWC had cautioned people to avoid river front and river related activities. Department of Disaster Management, Arunachal Pradesh, too, has earlier conveyed to the district administration in East Siang to take precautionary measures to meet any eventualities as the water levels were expected to rise suddenly.
East Siang district administration had issued an alert as it cautioned people not to venture into Siang and peripheral areas to collect driftwood, fishing or swimming apprehending a sudden flash flood in the downstream areas in case the dam bursts and releases the vast quantity of accumulated water.
“And also people living in low lying areas (both the right and left bank of Siang River) viz Jarku, Paglek, SS Mission, Jarkong, Banskota, Berung, Jampani, Sigar, Ralling, Borguli, Seram, Kongkul, Namsing, Mer, Gadum, etc to remain alert but without panic for any eventuality that may happen due to above reasons,” it said in a statement.
It must be mention here that around 6,000 people have been evacuated in Tibet around the area where the lake has formed. China is said to have informed India of the development.
The landslide struck near a village in Menling County and the water in the artificial lake had risen to 131 feet by Thursday.
in Assam
The Dibrugarh district administration has suspended all ferry services between Dibrugarh and Dhemaji for indefinite period. The step has been taken as a precautionary measure after the flood alert was issued in Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Tinsukia districts following the massive landslide in China’s Yarlung Tsangpo River.
Six NDRF teams have reached Dibrugarh from Kolkata late last night by a special aircraft of the air force. The six NDRF teams consisting total 150 members equipped with 36 tons of equipments landed Mohanbari in the late night hours. Four of the team have been sent to Dhemaji, one to Tinsukia and one kept at Dibrugarh.
Another 8 teams of NDRF consisting 200 members landed at Pasighat to tackle any type of situation.
Flood level in Pasight is rising but still flowing at 149.50Mtrs which is below danger level 153.96Mtrs).
In Dibrugarh the water level is 103.32 Mtrs with falling trend (Danger level is 105.70M).
The administration has taken the above steps as precautionary measure. The district administration appeals people not to panic.
