A number of smaller rivers and tributaries have been the cause of much trouble and devastation in Lakhimpur district in Assam this year as prolonged monsoon rains have adversely affected the lives of the people.
Incessant rains to early October affected the rural agricultural activities of thousands of peasants of Lakhimpur district this year.
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The significant fact of this natural phenomenon this time is the spate and overflow of relatively smaller rivers that meet Subansiri- the biggest tributary of the Brahmaputra and the largest river in Lakhimpur.
The smaller rivers that have caused devastation during this late monsoon are Jiyadhal, Kumotiya, Champora, Korha and Charikodiya.
Each of these rivers is in Dhakuwakhona sub-division of the district crisscrossing Dhakuwakhona, Ghilamora and Subansiri Revenue Circles.
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These rivers not only affected the croplands with paddies but caused widespread inundation and bank erosion affecting communication and other vital aspects of daily life.
In Bordoibam Gaon Panchayat under Ghilamora Revenue Circle, the overflowing water of Kumotiya and Champora rivers inundated 25 villages on October 5.
The rivers caused massive bank erosions of a stretch of land from Chakalaguri to the bridge in Chutiakari village in that area.
The one-kilometre long geo-bag stretch on the banks of river Kumotiya, constructed under MGNREGA scheme of 2018-19 was damaged by the erosion near the Bor-Naamghar of Na-Paam village.
Both the ends of the bridge on the lone rural road connecting Na-Paam and Kaivarttagaon has been eroded by Kumotyia river.
It may be mentioned that the Jiyadhal river- which originates in Arunachal Pradesh form a deep gorge known for repeated cloudbursts- was in abnormal spate in the last few days is responsible for the rise of water levels in all the smaller rivers in eastern areas of Lakhimpur district.
Jiyadhal flows bridles as Kumotiya, Champora and Korha before meeting the Subansiri river.
Villagers have to reap the ripe Sali paddy in chest-deep water in many areas of Ghilamora due to the inundation of the agriculture fields in this flood.
The overflowing water of Korha river has inundated a wide area in Middle-Dhakuwakhona, West Dhakuwakhona and in Mornoi Gaon Panchayats forcing the peasants to reap their paddy in deep water.
The worst-affected villages are Bhent-Toli, Ghahinbari, Omud-Borbari, Ujani Jalbhari, Maj Jalbhari, Bam Chapori, Kothalbari, Duliyagaon, No. 1 and No. 2 Bantow etc.
In Nowboicha Revenue Circle the increased water level of Singra has threatened its right-hand side embankment at Charawani which protects the area like Phoolbari, Dolahat and Sonapur.
Meanwhile, the TMPK, MMK and TMMK have demonstrated against state’s apathy towards the flood and erosion problem faced by riverine people in Bihpuria Revenue Circle on October 8.
They protested for the unabated bank erosion by the Subansiri and Dikrong river in Botuthachuk under Bodoti-Jamuguri Gaon Panchayat of Bihpuria.