45,000 people affected in first wave of Assam floods

Around 45,000 people have been affected across four districts of Assam in the first wave of floods, the state disaster management authority said.

So far over 1,018 hectares of crop area has been inundated by flood water, while Burhidihing and Desang Naglamuraga rivers were flowing above the danger mark in Sivasagar, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.

Nearly 45,000 people were suffering in Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Sivasagar and Charaideo districts, ASDMA said in an official release.

The Army, the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF) teams have been deployed in Charaideo for search and rescue operations, it said.

Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia held an emergency flood review meeting this morning with various heads of the departments concerned where Deputy Commissioners of flood affected districts also joined through video conferencing and apprised them about the situation.

The Chief Secretary instructed the DCs to keep close watch on the overall situation and to contact ASDMA authorities in case of any emergencies.

Late last night the engine of New Delhi-Silchar Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express was derailed near Lumding due to heavy rainfall and landslide.

The Northeast Frontier Railway spokesperson said continuous heavy rainfall in the region has triggered landslides dumping boulders on the tracks.

No injury was reported in the incident and the train left for its destination this morning after clearing of the tracks, he added.

Meanwhile, at least eight labourers went missing after they washed away on Sunday in a flash flood in Jatinga river in Cachar district and rescue operations to trace them were still on, officials said.

According to an Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) Emergency Cell official, the labourers were stone collectors in Jatinga river when the flash flood struck them.

“The incident happened at Bandarkhal area under Silchar circle in the morning. Due to inaccessibility and remoteness of place, we are not getting proper information swiftly. We have only come to know that eight persons have been washed away,” the official said.

He said an SDRF team has been deployed by district administration to find and recover the bodies, but without any success so far.

“We also cannot say it with confirmation whether they are alive or dead... At night, rescue operation will be stopped and will start again on Monday,” the ASDMA official said.