Guwahati, July 20 (IANS) Assam’s flood situation further disrupted connectivity to river island Majuli on Monday as the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department suspended all ferry services between Majuli and Jorhat indefinitely following a sharp rise in the Brahmaputra’s water level, officials said.
A senior government official stated that the suspension was ordered after ferry ramps at Kamalabari and Aphalamukh ghats were submerged due to rising floodwaters, making navigation unsafe.
The department said ferry operations would remain suspended until river conditions improve and safety can be ensured.
The Ro-Pax ferry service between Majuli and Nimati Ghat had already been suspended since Sunday owing to deteriorating river conditions.
With the latest order, all ferry services operating from Kamalabari and Aphalamukh have been halted, severely affecting transport between Majuli, the biggest district island in the country, and the mainland. Officials said the ramps at both ferry terminals were completely submerged, while the approach road leading to Aphalamukh Ghat was washed away by floodwaters, snapping access to the jetty.
The suspension has disrupted the movement of thousands of daily commuters, students, traders and patients who depend on ferry services for travelling between Majuli and Jorhat.
Authorities have advised residents to avoid unnecessary travel and wait for official notifications before planning river crossings.
The IWT Department said the decision was taken purely as a precautionary measure in view of the strong river currents, submerged infrastructure and floating debris in the Brahmaputra, which pose serious risks to ferry operations.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the flood situation deteriorated significantly, with one person reported dead in Sivasagar district.
The latest casualty has taken the flood-related death toll in the state this year to five.
ASDMA data showed that more than 57,100 people have been affected across Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Udalguri districts. The number of affected people has risen sharply from around 24,000 recorded a day earlier.
Charaideo remains the worst-affected district, with nearly 24,000 people impacted, followed by Dhemaji, where over 22,000 residents are affected. Dibrugarh has reported more than 4,000 affected people, while floodwaters have also affected parts of Jorhat, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Udalguri.
–IANS
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