Aftermath of landslide: Hailakandi administration shifts people to safer places

June 4: In view of landslides in the district that snuffed out eight lives on Monday, the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has asked the Circle Officers to shift people living near hills and mounds to safer places.

In a letter issued to the Circle Officers of Hailakandi, Algapur, Lala and Katlicherra on Tuesday, Additional Deputy Commissioner cum Chief Executive Officer, DDMA, RK Dam directed the officials to shift the people living in kutcha houses with mud walls close to hills and mounds to safer places in view of the recent landslips at Mohonpur Grant and Chandipur Grant under Hailakandi and Algapur revenue circles which claimed eight lives on Monday. “As reported, many people are living in kutcha house with mud walls adjacent to hills and mounds. People living in such vulnerable areas need to be shifted to nearby government buildings like schools and community halls etc,” said Dam.

Dam also directed the Circle Officers to conduct survey of landslide prone areas in their respective jurisdictions with the help of field officers, patwaries and panchayat functionaries and to involve the AAPDA Mitra volunteers to shift the families to safe places immediately.

District Programme Officer, DDMA, Rupjoy Maibangsa informed that AAPDA Mitra volunteers along with patwaries are making visits to the vulnerable spots such as Sunacherra Bagan, Rupacherra Bagan, Rangabak under Katlicherra revenue circle, Mohanpur Grant under Hailakandi revenue circle, Chandipur, Bashbari under Algapur revenue circle. “AAPDA Mitra volunteers are asking people in vulnerable areas to move to safer places like schools, colleges, community hall and other buildings specially at night following high risk of landslides due to incessant rain in the district in the past few days,” added Maibangsa.

The DDMA authorities have identified places prone to landslides such as Bashbari, Chandipur, Dalidahar and Burnie Brease under Algapur revenue circle, Mohonpur RA and Serishpore tea estate under Hailakandi, Alexander Grant, Dholai IV, Dinanathpur, Jamira, Bolda Boldi, Baicherra, Harishnagar and Dariarghat under Katlicherra revenue circle and Dhalcherra-Bilaipur and Bangalpar under Lala revenue circle.

Meanwhile, water levels of the three major rivers in the district are rising following heavy showers for the past few days. Dholeswari river is flowing at 23.07 metre as against the danger level of 28.05 metre, Katakhal at 17.05 metre as against the danger level of 20.27 metre and Barak river at 18.07 metre as against the danger level mark of 19.83 metre.