Dibrugarh: Sivasagar remains submerged nearly three weeks after the July 19 deluge, as Assam’s flood toll hits 95.The district administration has deployed three high-capacity pumps to drain floodwater into the Brahmaputra. Industries minister and Sivasagar guardian minister Bimal Borah said Thursday a fourth unit was being installed, raising the combined capacity to 100,000 litres per minute (LPM).“At present, the three machines are collectively pumping out 65,000 litres of water per minute. Work is underway to install another machine that will add about 35,000 litres per minute capacity. Once all four are operational, we will be able to pump out around 1 lakh litres every minute,” Borah said while supervising operations near Moridilih Sluice Gate in Santipur Gaon Panchayat.Borah said narrow, waterlogged roads complicated the transport and installation of the ONGC-owned units. He also helped workers position the equipment.Officials said the pumps would accelerate dewatering in Betbari, Banmukh, Nimaijan and large parts of Sivasagar town.“We aim to restore normalcy in these localities as quickly as possible. Pumping is being coordinated with sluice-gate operations to ensure safe discharge into the Brahmaputra,” a water resources department engineer said.Sivasagar is Assam’s worst-hit district in the current floods, reporting 50 deaths — more than half the state’s toll. Rescue and relief operations continue across several districts.
