HEAVY RAINS AFFECT SIX DISTRICTS IN NR (PAGE 14)

Torrential rains in about 42 communities in six districts in the Northern Region has destroyed many acres of farmlands and displaced a number of persons in two of the affected communities.
No casualties were, however, reported while the number of displaced persons was yet to be determined.
The districts are Tolon-Kumbungu, Central Gonja, East Gonja, Kpandai, Zabzugu-Tatale and West Mamprusi.
A report released by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) on the situation in the region, indicated that although the Burkinabe authorities had spilled excess water from the Bagre and Kompienga dams, its impact was yet to be felt in the region.
The Deputy Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO in charge of operations, Mr Chris Tanga, made this known during a stakeholders meeting in Tamale yesterday to assess the possible impact of the spillage of the dams.
According to him, the impact of the spillage would be experienced in the next few days.
“Reports received from the eastern part of the region indicated that River Oti has overflown its banks, thus affecting communities in the Chereponi and Saboba districts,” Mr Tanga stated.
He expressed regret that the organisation in the region, “was not in the position to monitor or assess the situation in our present state. We lack means of transport to visit the affected areas”.
The co-ordinator however expressed optimism that NADMO in Accra was working round the clock to support the north to help bring urgent relief to the affected people.
He, therefore, suggested the formation of a rapid assessment team to visit flood-prone areas and stressed that “for now, the flooding as being reported is exclusively due to heavy rains”.
The Area Manager of the Volta River Authority-Northern Electrification Department, Mr Danladi Bukari, observed that the volume of water as a result of the spillage was increasing daily but was yet to be experienced in the region.
He, therefore, urged stakeholders to intensify public education on the need for the residents to move upland while measures are put in place for an evacuation exercises if the need arose.
The Regional Co-ordinator of NADMO, Alhaji Abdulai Mahama Silimboma, indicated that water levels in the areas visited so far by his outfit were rising while many more farmlands were under threat of being submerged.
According to him, some communities were becoming more inaccessible.