Swimmers engaged to ferry relief to the marooned

Official sources said many portions along the Khonsa-Joypur, Khonsa-Longding and Khonsa-Lazu Roads caved in as Deputy Commissioner, Changlang, Opak Gao and Bordumsa ADC Kento Riba ventured into Vijaypur-III to feed around 300 marooned people starving there since the midnight of June 23 last.

As the swollen Noa-Dehing river was in spate due to torrential rains and tore apart a village, spread in 5 sq km area into two parts, the IAF officers deployed four expert swimmers who, using two country boats, manoeuvred across the turbulent currents to ferry three quintals of rice, cheeda (flattened rice), jaggery, potable water and life saving drugs for the hapless villagers.

They also built a 10X10 feet helipad in Vijaypur-III using planks for helicopter to land.

Later, the quartet ferried relief materials to Vijaypur-I and also rescued about 50 marooned villagers, who were housed in relief camps taking the number to 250, the sources said.

Those who ferried the relief materials included food and civil supplies department Sub-Inspector Duja Singpho (28), field investigator RK Nath (38), GoAP driver Tuley Giri (38) and Chakma youth Ramesh Kusum (28).

The IAF also have built another helipad in Vijaypur-I.

Meanwhile, the state public works department deployed earth-movers to widen the NH 52A by cutting the severely eroded sinking zone that had made the point hazardous for vehicular traffic since Tuesday and diverted through another route.