JAMUGURIHAT, Aug 31: The fourth successive flood of the river Jia-Bhorali has been submerging a vast areas under Na-duar Revenue Circle, Tezpur Revenue Circle and Chariduar Revenue Circle rendering 20,000 people homeless belonging to village-Bihia gaon, Chamdhora, Garh-Carh-Chingra-Bihia gaon, Alisinga, Tengabasti, Na-pam, Koroiani. As reported the flood water has also damaged the crops of more than thirty thousand bighas of land. Though the people of these areas tried to erect some embankments with their own effort but all their efforts came to an end because of the flood water. [S]

NAGAON, Aug 31: Almost 200 citizens of 1, 2 and 22 ward of Nagaon Municipality observed sit-in demonstration in front of DC's chamber protesting against the failure of district administration and Nagaon Municipality Board in controlling the artificial floods caused by rains in their wards. It should be mentioned here that the citizens of these three wards of Nagaon municipality are living amidst the artificial floods for the last one month, since the drains have been blocked by some citizen by constructing houses over the drains of Nagaon municipality. After considering the public demands, a high-level meeting of district administration was called by DC, Nagaon Mr S Abbassi, where representatives of citizens took part. After the discussion Mr S Abbasi, DC, Nagaon assured the protesters to solve their problems within a few days and later the citizen called off their demonstration in the evening. [S]

DHEMAJI, Aug 31: In earlier days, floods could not affect the Jonai subdivision of Dhemaji district as the uppermost subdivision consists of highlands. As a result the rivers followed the original courses. But since last year, the rivers of the subdivision have begun to play havoc. Rivers Simen, Demow, Dikhari, Lali, etc are all in spate frequently affecting hundreds of villages. This year, the Simen river course has changed affecting more than 20 villages badly. The worst-affected villages are Chengajan, Majorbari, No. 2 Kachari, Ananda Nagar, Baragharia, Bambasti, Purana Basti, Lakabali etc. On the other hand the present floods caused by Brahmaputra has affected 20 villages and eroded away a village totally. According to official sources, the damages caused by floods have been estimated at more than Rs 2 crore. Floods have severely damaged several roads and bridges including NH 52, and destroyed 2,237 hectares of Ahu crops, 529 hectares of Sali crops, 2,868 cows, 1,104 buffalloes and innumerable livestocks. [AT]

Intellectuals and techno-experts who submitted research papers included Dr Chandan Mahanta of IIT, Guwahati, Dr A R Barua, Director of Extension Education, AAU, Jorhat, Dr J N Sharma, Department of Applied Geology Dibrugarh University, Dr Ashok Kumar Barua, Department of Geology, Gauhati University, Dr Hemkanta Barua, Structural Engineer, Jorhat, and Professor S C Patre of the North East Regional Institute of Water and Land Management, besides other. Representatives from the Brahmaputra Board, Agriculture Department, Flood Control Department, Health Services, Veterinary Department, Environmental Forum, NEADS and National Bureau of Soil Survey and Land Use Planning took active part in the deliberations even as the seminar was graced by internationally renowned mathematician, Professor Pradeepeswar Bhattacharyya, who is incidentally the vice-Chancellor of Tezpur University. [AT]

MORIGAON, Aug 29: The high-level team of International Federation of Red Cross comprising Mr Harold Lockwood, Mr Gilbert Greenhall and Patrick Fuller today visited the flood-affected Bhuragaon and Lahorighat revenue circles. Later, the team discussed the $-6 billion relief package to be implemented in Morigaon district with the high-level officials of Assam Government at Bhuragaon. [S]

GUWAHATI, Aug 29: The ACW Group and the Manab Kalyan Sangha have appealed to the people for their 'whole-hearted support and help' vis-a-vis food, medicine, cloth, monetary support, for the flood-affected people of the State. Philanthropist organisations, individuals and others who would like to show their compassion for the suffering masses should contact ACW Group, Taru Kamala Bhaban, 2nd floor, Jashwanta Road, Panbazar, Guwahati, at phones 98640-63856, 92384, 551445; e-mail: acwbiju@ghyonline.com. [AT]

On August 2, the wooden bridge on MB Road near Kalaigaon had collapsed due to the unprecedented devastating flood. As per the initiative taken by Mr Sanjoy Lohia, Deputy Commissioner, Darrang and Mr MM Raichaudhury (MLA) Kalaigaon LAC, the Mangaldai Division of PWD (roads) started the restoration work on war footing inspite of the financial shortage and finally the disrupted road communication has been restored much to the relief of the people. Mention may also be made that Dr Zoii Nath Sarma, Revenue Minister, Assam had visited the area during the flood and assured the people that the bridge would be reconstructed within a short period. [S]

BILASIPARA, Aug 26: Over 300 Congress (I) activists gheraoed the SDO (Civil) while staging a dharna in front of the SDO office. They later submitted a memorandum to him protesting against the failure of the administration to rescue the marooned people during the last two successive floods and discriminatory attitude of the two local MLAs in distributing flood relief and in selecting beneficiaries for the old-age pension scheme. The Congress (I) workers of both Bilasipara (east) and Bilasipara (west) block Congress committees was led by the former Minister Anowar Hussain and Hatem Ali Choudhury. [AT]

TINSUKIA, Aug 26: In aid of flood affected people of Halighuli and other areas in Tinsukia district, the Surjya Mukhi Natya Gosthi, a socio-cultural organization of Tinsukia performed several street cultural programme through its "Xur vahini" and collected cash amounting to Rs 8,500 for medicines, clothes, food items, etc. The persons desirous of helping the flood victims can donate any related items/aid to the Surjya Mukhi office located at Chaldhuwa Pukhuri Path, Barabazar, Tinsukia. [S]