The districts of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji and parts of Arunachal Pradesh have been totally cut off from the rest of the country following washing away of a portion of National Highway-52 by flood waters and it will take some time to restore road communication even as the flood situation in Lakhimpur district remained grave with as many as 11 breaches in the embankments. Talking to The Assam Tribune, Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner, Manish Thakur said that though the weather condition improved today, the situation remained grave today. He said that flash floods in Arunachal Pradesh following incessant rains were believed to be the main cause for the situation turning worse in Lakhimpur. Thakur said that with the rise in the water level of most of the rivers, the embankments were first overtopped and then later in the day as many as 11 breaches took place, which resulted in deterioration of the situation. He said that Ranganadi river breached the embankments at four places, Singara river breached embankments at five places and the embankments of Dikrong river were breached at two places. Flood waters also overtopped the embankment of Kakoi river. The DC revealed that more than 1.60 lakh people of over 150 villages of the district have been affected by the first wave of floods and flood waters also entered parts of North Lakhimpur town. He said that the district administration started providing relief to the affected people from today and efforts would be made to provide tarpaulin sheets to the people rendered homeless from tomorrow. However, Thakur pointed out that washing away of a part of the National Highway-52 is the biggest worry as it totally cut off the districts of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. He revealed that a 25-metre-long breach occurred on the National Highway at Ganeshmandir, around five kilometre from North Lakhimpur town and efforts are on to construct a Bailey bridge to restore road communication. He said that senior officials of the PWD are arriving in Lakhimpur for the construction of the Bailey bridge, but it will take a few days to construct the same. Thakur said that the officials of the Water Resources department are working round the clock to protect the vulnerable embankments, but they are facing an uphill task. Commenting on the allegation that release of excess water of the Ranganadi project of the NEEPCO resulted in flash floods, the DC said that it might be rumours only "as in that case, only one river would have been affected and not four.'