As a barrier lake in Tibet breached on Friday afternoon, there was huge possibility of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh facing a major disaster and Siang and Brahmaputra rivers facing huge water flows.
But, officials of Water Resources Department of Arunachal Pradesh told Northeast Now at around 4:10 am on Saturday from Pasighat that the highest flood level in the year 2017 was 420.43 m and in 2018 it is 415.63 m. So, “418 m level is within normal flow and there is nothing to worry”.
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[The latest news is that as per Water Resources Department report, at 1:56 am the water level slightly receded at Tuting (at 1.00 am it was – 418.65 m and at 1.30 am it was – 418.45 m). Flood water reached Yingkiong at 1.37 am (at 1.00 am the water level was 292.0 m and at 1.37 am it was 292.5m). At 3.58 am, water crossed Dite Dime. Northeast Now will continue to give latest update on the water level]
Mr Dhrubajyoti Borgohain, Chief Engineer, Brahmaputra Board, told Northeast Now, “As thought, the water flow will not have a calamitous effect in Assam (mainly Dibrugarh). As the Brahmaputra is very wide, the water will safely pass.”
The barrier lake was created on Wednesday morning following the collapse of a cliff in the deep valley through which the river flows. The cause of the landslide is believed to be natural, and there was no report of any earthquake in the area in the recent past.
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Also Read: Barrier lake in Tibet breaches, devastation in Arunachal and Assam likely
Debang Tayeng, Executive Engineer of the Water Resource Department of Arunachal Pradesh in Panging Division, is camping at Pasighat, and is monitoring the situation round the clock.
Earlier, flood alert was already issued in four Upper Assam districts. According to a press communiqué, already six teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have left Kolkata towards Dibrugarh. The teams will take positions in the affected areas.
On the other hand, it has also been revealed that Assam Chief Minister Sonowal had talked to External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj over the telephone regarding the issue of possible artificial floods that may affect the State. The Foreign Affairs Minister had urged the Assam Chief Minister to take all protective measures to face any kind of situation.