Guwahati, June 29: Indian Oil is using boats to deliver cooking gas cylinders to households in flood-ravaged southern Assam, especially in Silchar, the region’s main commercial hub, officials said.
An official of the Indian Oil said that the company rose to the occasion and ensured an uninterrupted supply of cooking gas (LPG), petrol, and diesel in the flood-affected areas.
“Our newly-commissioned Moinorbond Depot near Silchar proved to be a savior and ensured seamless relief operation by local administration apart from fulfilling the local fuel demand,” the official told the media.
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Retail outlets were instructed to prioritize the supply of diesel to mobile tower operators to keep the communication channels alive in the face of continuous power cuts. Dealers and distributor networks rolled up their sleeves and made food and water available to stranded drivers and commuters.
According to the official, LPG door delivery continued through boats, which replaced delivery vans. This resulted in achieving an enviable LPG cylinder backlog in Assam of only 1.03 days and just over 1.7 days in the three more severely affected districts — Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakhandhi.
The fledgling business centre in southern Assam’s Silchar witnessed the second spell of floods within a month. While Silchar is the worst hit, 32 out of 35 districts of Assam have been affected. The Rail link to Silchar had been cut off for more than a month. Unprecedented landslides further severed connectivity of Silchar and adjoining areas by road.
Utility services including electricity and mobile connectivity got disrupted and central agencies like National Disaster Response Force, Army, and Air force had to be deployed to provide relief and rescue operations, an Indian Oil statement said.
For the first time in 33 years, Silchar and adjoining areas witnessed an unprecedented flood situation after the breach of the Barak River embankment on June 19, affecting over 8 lakh people.
