Assam: Two Held For Damaging Embankment Of Barak River; Responsible for deadly disaster
Two people have been apprehended in the Cachar district of Assam for allegedly damaging the embankment of the Barak river, which ultimately led to a catastrophic flood situation in Silchar. The arrested persons have been identified as Mithu Hussain Laskar and Kabul Khan. Laskar was nabbed on July 2 while Khan was apprehended on the night of July 1 their arrest was confirmed by Ramandeep Kaur, Superintendent of Police in Cachar and she informed that the police were further investigating the matter.
The Water Resources Department filed a police report against unidentified miscreants earlier last month after they broke down an embankment near Bethukandi, some 3 kilometres from the town centre, to let rainfall from a marsh spill into the Barak river. The flood was a man-made disaster, according to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who also promised that those guilty would not go unpunished and would endure severe punishment.
The embankment collapse that caused a fatal flood in Silchar town was caused by six people, the chief minister announced on July 1. When the Chief Minister visited the Cachar district embankment site, he reportedly showed people a video that Kabul Khan had allegedly taken of the break. In the video, Sarma can be seen requesting help from viewers in identifying the speakers.
“The Bethukandi incident has taught us a valuable lesson. We must station police officers near the embankment so that nobody can breach it during the next flood. To file a case in Guwahati over the Bethukandi breach, CID has been directed. The Silchar flood case will now be filed in Guwahati, where witnesses will also be questioned and where all investigations will be conducted “CM Himanta Biswa Sarma stated.
The flood catastrophe in Assam harmed lakhs of people in 30 districts. Silchar town, which was severely damaged, is still under water in several parts. During his recent visit, the Chief Minister gave each of the families of the ten victims of the Silchar disaster a check for Rs 4 lakh.
