Assam: Subansiri water release strands boats, triggers panic in Lakhimpur
Reported by Farhana Ahmed
North Lakhimpur: Panic was reported in downstream areas of the Subansiri river after the release of water from the Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Plant at Gerukamukh since Thursday afternoon.
The plant is operated by the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC).
According to NHPC, water was released in phases from the 2000 MW project, with 1169.58 cumec at Daporijo, 2055.39 cumec at Tamin and 5393.94 cumec downstream of the dam since 4 pm on Thursday.
The release led to a rise in water levels and stronger currents in the Subansiri river in downstream areas of Assam's Lakhimpur district.
Three boats were affected by the increased flow, with two stranded on sandbars and one stuck at a river ghat.
Around fifty passengers, mostly teachers returning home after school hours from Pub Telahi, Balijan, Bandarkata and Esarkata areas of Lakhimpur district, were stranded in the boats.
Following distress calls from the stranded passengers, the Lakhimpur district administration deployed the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). The SDRF team, along with district officials, rescued all passengers at around 7 pm.
The incident has raised concern in Lakhimpur district, which has previously experienced dam-related flooding impacts in the downstream Ranganadi river basin due to hydroelectric projects in Arunachal Pradesh.