Daijiworld Media Network - Guwahati
Guwahati, Jun 24: The Assam government has issued a high alert across several districts after intense rainfall and flash floods in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh's Lower Subansiri district raised concerns over a significant rise in downstream river levels over the next 48 hours.
According to an official statement released on Wednesday, authorities are closely monitoring the evolving situation after heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Subansiri basin led to a sudden surge in water discharge.
Data from the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati and the Meteorological Centre in Itanagar showed that Yazali in Lower Subansiri received 72.8 mm of rainfall in the past 24 hours, with a substantial amount recorded between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
Officials said satellite and radar observations confirmed that intense rainfall between 6 a.m. and 7.30 a.m. triggered flash floods and caused a sharp increase in river flow.
The flooding impacted the Panyor Lower Hydroelectric Project, formerly known as the Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project. Due to the sudden inflow of water, project authorities opened one spillway gate to safely release excess water and manage reservoir levels.
Reports from Yazali also indicated that flash floods carrying debris damaged several houses and other infrastructure in affected localities.
Government officials warned that the flood wave is expected to move downstream, with Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath and Sonitpur likely to face the initial impact before the waters gradually advance towards western Assam and eventually reach Dhubri within the next one to two days.
Following instructions from Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Secretary Ravi Kota reviewed the situation and directed all departments and agencies to remain on maximum alert and strengthen preparedness measures.
District administrations have been asked to maintain round-the-clock surveillance, while teams of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other emergency agencies have been kept on standby for immediate deployment if required.
Authorities have also urged residents living in low-lying and flood-prone areas to remain vigilant, avoid entering waterlogged regions and refrain from travelling in country boats and small vessels, as river currents are expected to become stronger in the coming days.