As new areas are inundated, life has become impossible in Silchar with crisis of drinking water

June 21: Life has become too tough for the people of Silchar as the flood water level in various parts of Silchar are on the rise. The speed at which the water is flowing inside the town has made it impossible for the people to come down and take shelter to safe places. The stock of drinking water has also almost exhausted, thereby leading to severe crisis of drinking water. On Tuesday too, the fury of water continued.

However, at Tuesday late night, once again began rainfall, which made things more fearful for the people. Many after flooding of their houses took shelter in some of the open roof tops. With spell of rain, they became the worst sufferers. Many even took along with them to the roof top, their pet animals. Devoid of tarpaulin, these people and pets were totally drenched. In another incident, a few deaths were also reported on Tuesday (death not due to flood but due to disease). The family members of the deceased found it too difficult to perform the last rites as the Silchar crematorium was too full with water.

Meanwhile, the social media platforms became flooded with SOS messages. Mostly people were asking the district administration to provide drinking water. Some even quoted the famous line “Water water everywhere, but not a drop to drink,” from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”.

Though the district administration has shared multiple helplines, but many calls went unattended. Some even alleged that they expressed inability to extend any help at this hour. Those in Public School Road, Kanakpur, Link Road, Shyamananda Ashram Road constantly wrote on Facebook to provide drinking water, but till Tuesday late night, all such pleas went unattended. As the flow of water is too fast in areas like Public School Road, district administration expressed the inability to send in boats for rescue until the flow decreased. Overall, Silchar presented a fearful look owing to the devastating flood.

On a sarcastic note, many even took to the social media and expressed, “Our vehicles are all submerged. At this juncture, we do not require 1 lakh litre of petrol, but we require at least 1 litre drinking water bottle each for our family members!.”

DC Cachar said, “Officers and staff of District Administration along with NDRF, SDRF,CRPF Army, Para Military and other Security personnel are working relentlessly putting out all out efforts and risking their lives in the turbulent waters, which has gripped the whole of Silchar town to rescue and evacuate the people to safer places, who are stuck up inside their homes or elsewhere. Many requests are being received for help which are being tried to be addressed immediately.”