Assam: 49 killed, 41 lakh affected in three waves of floods this year

Guwahati: At least 49 people have lost their lives and nearly 41 lakh were affected in three waves of flood this year in Assam, the state assembly was informed today.

In a written reply to a short notice question by AGP MLA Phani Bhusan Choudhury, Minister of State for Disaster Management Pallab Lochan Das said 49 people were killed due to flood this year as per available information.

"During the current year, 40,92,180 people in 4,675 villages across 29 districts were affected in three waves of flood in Assam," Das said.

He also informed the house that 41,426.48 hectares of crop land have suffered massive damages due to the deluge.

"The detailed information about the quantum of damage is still being collected. We will be able to tell about the exact loss only after flood water recedes," Das said.

To another written query by Choudhury, the minister replied that the land area of the world's largest river island Majuli has been shrinking gradually.

"Under Majuli revenue circle, the area of Majuli was 9,30,712 bigha 3 katha and 4 lecha in 1951. Currently this stands at 5,25,712 bigha 3 katha and 4 lecha," Das said.

Of this, 13,440 bigha 2 katha and 15 lecha vanished since 2001 due to erosion by Brahmaputra and its tributary Subansiri, he informed.