High flood alert has been sounded in Lakhimpur of north Assam following release of excess waters from the dam of Ranganadi Hydro Electric Project (RHEP) on upstream of the river at Yazali inside Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday afternoon.

NEEPCO is releasing 605.25 cumecs of water through its Gate No. 4 of the dam of the hydro-electric project at 5 pm on Saturday causing rise of water level alarmingly on the downstream of Ranganadi river in Lakhimpur district.

According to Districted Emergency Operational Centre (DEOC) at North Lakhimpur, RHEP’s Gate No. 4 was in open status at 6.15 in the evening at the 4000 mm water level.

The BEOC data also shows that the water level of the RHEP dam has risen from 300 mm at 2.16 pm to 4,000 mm within four hours at 6.15 pm at Gate No. 4.

The release of dam water by NEEPCO has caused the rise of water level of Ranganadi in Lakhimpur district in the evening.

The DEOC has already sounded alert in the riverine areas of Lakhimpur.

It may be recalled that waters from NEEPCO’s RHEP dam devastated Lakhimpur with deluge in 2008 and again in 2017.

Incessant rain in the district in the last 72 hours has already caused inundation in many areas of Lakhimpur.

On Saturday, the rising waters of Ranganadi swept away a bridge at Gobarisali.

Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah has expressed concern over the release of water from the dam of Ranganadi Hydro Electric Project.

Baruah has requested Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has raised the issue with the Union power ministry.

Huge water discharge by @NEEPCOlimited post heavy rains endangers Lakhimpur/catchment area of flooding. Ranganadi, tributaries flowing to brim. Proactive action by NEEPCO, armed with weather forecast, was needed. Requested Hon @himantabiswa for asap resolution with @MinOfPower.

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