Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday blamed the public-sector North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for the flash floods in Lakhimpur district of eastern Assam on Saturday. NEEPCO had released water from its Ranganadi hydel project dam in Arunachal Pradesh without any warning. "The flash floods in Lakhimpur on Saturday were caused by NEEPCO suddenly releasing water from its dams in Arunachal Pradesh without warning or prior information. We are definitely going to seek compensation from NEEPCO for the damage caused,' Gogoi said. At least 21 people have died in the flash floods. Gogoi, meanwhile, has asked additional chief secretary Alok Perti to probe the matter, while NEEPCO has been warned not to release water without informing the state Government. "NEEPCO has released water in this manner earlier too. But it was only on Tuesday that it admitted that water was released on Saturday, causing havoc in Lakhimpur. We have asked NEEPCO not to release water in this manner in the future. In case it is compelled to do so, it must inform us,' he said. Flash floods in Ranganadi and Dikrong areas of Lakhimpur district on Saturday caught the people as well as the district authorities unawares and caused damage to public and private property worth Rs 100 crore, apart from causing extensive damage to standing crops and cattle. Over three lakh people have been affected by the floods, with over 51,000 houses damaged. Standing crops in about 35,000 hectares were submerged as gushing waters breached embankments and flood protection structures. NEEPCO started giving out information on water release to the Lakhimpur deputy commissioner on Tuesday, following which the district authorities warned the people through loudspeakers to remain alert. Gogoi also announced establishment of a permanent flood-management commission comprising of experts who would provide valuable inputs to the state government in matters relating to flood management and disaster mitigation on a long-term basis. "This commission will be outside the purview of the state water resources department and would keep in touch with the National Disaster Management Authority and other agencies,' Gogoi said, admitting that till now, most measures were being taken up only on an ad hoc basis. The state will also ask Dibrugarh and Gauhati Universities as well as IIT-Guwahati, to set up special cells for carrying out continuous research on floods.