Thirteen fishermen in Assam’s Dibrugarh were rescued by the Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter after being stranded on a sandbar due to the rising water levels of the Brahmaputra river. The rescue operation was conducted following a request by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) after attempts to reach the fishermen by boats had failed. The fishermen had been marooned on the sandbar since Friday due to heavy rainfall causing the water level to rise in the Brahmaputra. The water level in the river had crossed the danger level of 105.70 meters multiple times, leading to challenging conditions for the stranded individuals.
The high rainfall in the upper catchment areas of the Brahmaputra and other nearby rivers like Siang, Lohit, Burhidihing, and Sessa had contributed to the rising water levels. The IAF also helped rescue State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and a revenue official who were stranded in a sandbar during relief operations. Assam has been grappling with the second wave of floods, affecting over 6,44,128 people till Monday evening, with a significant impact on Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
The extreme current of the river prevented the operation of boats for rescue, leading to the deployment of helicopters for the evacuation of stranded individuals. The water levels in the Brahmaputra remained above the danger mark, and intermittent floods since May have claimed 35 lives. Despite the challenges posed by the floods, rescue operations have been ongoing to ensure the safety of those affected. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation and working to provide assistance to the affected populations as the region continues to grapple with the impact of the floods.
