Dibrugarh: Sivasagar administration ruled out any obstruction in the Dikhow river after reports of an upstream landslide in Nagaland.Residents in downstream areas were apprehensive since a voice message alleging an 80% blockage circulated on Wednesday.In an advisory issued on Thursday, the district administration said it received information from the administrations of Mokokchung and Longleng districts in Nagaland about the reported landslide and water blockage.“According to the latest ground information, there was no obstruction or blockade of the Dikhow river and no abnormality in the free flow of water downstream of the reported landslide site in Longleng,” the administration said.The reported landslide site is approximately 44 km from the overhanging bridge at Naginimora, before the river enters Assam, it said.The assessment followed an announcement by Longleng administration that it would conduct ground verification after reports that a landslide had blocked a major portion of the river. The reports triggered concern in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts over possible impacts downstream.Sivasagar district commissioner Mridul Yadav said the administration was closely monitoring the situation and the river level at Bihubar.“The latest information received from the district administrations of Mokokchung and Longleng confirms that there is no obstruction or blockade of the Dikhow river. There is no abnormality in the free flow of water downstream of the reported landslide site,” he added.Dikhow level at Bihubar remained well below the warning and danger marks. It stood at 94.49 metres between 1 am and 6 am on Thursday, before rising gradually to 94.55 metres at 7 am, 94.60 metres at 8 am, 94.66 metres at 9 am and 94.70 metres at 10 am.The level reached 94.73 metres at 11 am and remained unchanged until 1 pm — 9.04 metres below the danger mark of 103.77 metres. The warning level is 102.77 metres.The development came more than two months after flooding in Sivasagar on July 19, following heavy rainfall in Nagaland. The rain caused the Dikhow and other rivers to swell, affecting several parts of the district.India Meteorological Department and Central Water Commission have forecast light rainfall at isolated places. A warning has been issued for Mokokchung and Longleng districts for the next two days.
