Flood situation in Assam deteriorates, over 4.89 lakh people affected, two dead

Guwahati: Amid the warning of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in different parts of north-eastern states, the flood situation in Assam deteriorated on Saturday with more than 4.89 lakh people affected across 19 districts of state. In the last 24 hours, one person was drowned in flood waters in Nalbari district taking the death toll to two.

A Central Water Commission report on Friday evening said that the Brahmaputra was flowing over the danger level in Nematighat (Jorhat).

The water level of the Puthimari and Pagladiya rivers have breached the red mark in Kamrup and Nalbari districts respectively, it added.

According to the flood report of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly 2.67 lakh people have been affected alone in Bajali district followed by 80,061 people affected in Nalbari, 73,233 people in Barpeta, 22,577 people in Lakhimpur, 14,583 people in Darrang, 14180 people in Tamulpur, 7,282 people in Baksa, 4,750 people in Goalpara district.

The flood waters have submerged 10782.80 hectares of cropland.

1,538 villages under 54 revenue circles in Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, Tamulpur, Udalguri district have been affected in the deluge.

Following the torrential rains, the water level of the Brahmaputra River is flowing above the danger level mark at Neamatighat in Jorhat district and at Dhubri, Manas River at Nh Road Crossing, Pagladiya River at Nt Road Crossing, Puthimari river at Nh Road Crossing.

The district administration has set up 140 relief camps, and 75 relief distribution centres in flood-hit districts and 35,142 people have taken shelter in these relief camps.

On the other hand, many others have taken shelter on roads, highlands, and embankments.

The ASDMA flood report also stated that 4,27,474 domestic animals have also been affected by the flood.

In the last 24 hours, the flood waters breached 1 embankment and damaged 14 other embankments, 213 roads, 14 bridges, several agri bunds, school buildings, irrigation canals, and culverts.

The Regional Meteorological Centre here has issued a 'Yellow' alert for Saturday, asking people to be on watch and remain updated for heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in some parts of the state.

The state authorities said that around 200 families in the Doloi Gaon Shantipur village area have been badly affected after the flood waters of the Pahumara River breached a large portion of the embankment and the villagers are now taking shelter on the embankment, road by making makeshift tents.

NDRF, SDRF, Fire and Emergency services and Civil Defence personnel are engaged in rescue operations in different flood-hit districts.