The flood situation in Kailashahar subdivision of Unakoti district has deteriorated rapidly following several days of incessant heavy rainfall. The water level of the Manu River crossed the extreme danger mark on Thursday afternoon due to continuous rainfall in the river’s catchment area, inundating vast low-lying regions along the riverbanks. Hundreds of families have been forced to leave their homes and take shelter in relief camps.
According to the district administration, a portion of the river embankment at Lathiapura, a border village under Gournagar Block along the India-Bangladesh border, has been damaged. Rescue and relief operations are being carried out jointly by the subdivision administration, the Water Resources Department, and Civil Defence volunteers.
Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Shantimoy Debbarma said that 18 relief camps have been opened across the subdivision in view of the worsening flood situation. As of Thursday evening, a total of 4,939 people from 1,177 families had taken shelter in these camps. The displaced population includes 2,122 men, 2,003 women, and 814 children.
From Thursday morning, the SDM, accompanied by officials of the Water Resources Department, the Superintending Engineer, the Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO), and local public representatives, visited several flood-affected areas, including Srirampur and Chhantaile under Chandipur Block, Wards 13 and 15 of Kailashahar Municipal Council, and Lathiapura, Rangauti, Kaulikura, Jalai, and other inundated villages under Gournagar Block. Officials inspected damaged embankments and flooded areas and directed immediate preventive and restoration measures.
The administration also reported cracks and leakage in the embankment on the northeastern side of the old Kailashahar Airport. Emergency repair work, including the placement of sand-filled bags and earth filling, has been initiated to prevent further flooding in the town and surrounding low-lying areas.
Relief camps have been provided with cooked meals, safe drinking water, milk for children, and other essential nutritious food. In one of the camps, a child who was bitten by a dog was immediately shifted to hospital, where necessary treatment and anti-rabies vaccination were administered.
The subdivision administration said it is maintaining constant coordination with the First Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to tackle any emergency. The water level of the Manu River is being monitored every hour. Although rainfall intensity decreased somewhat after the afternoon, raising hopes of an improvement, the administration remains on maximum alert.