Flood situation grim in Assam and Bihar, toll rises to 72

According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), three more deaths were reported in the state taking the toll to 34. Two persons were killed at Bilasipara and Chapar in Dhubri district, while one death was reported in Barpeta town.

More than 11 lakh people at 1,659 villages in 21 districts are affected by the floods. Authorities are running 366 relief camps and distribution centres, where over 1.25 lakh people have taken shelter. More than one lakh hectares of crop area are under flood water across the state.

Carcass of a female rhino was found with its horn intact near Amkatoni camp in the flooded Kaziranga National Park (KNP). So far, 13 rhinos have died due to drowning in the floods which have so far also claimed lives of 15 hog deer, two wild boars and two snakes, officials said.

Over 100 wild animals, including 10 one-horned rhinos, swamp deers and hog deers have been rescued.

The Brahmaputra river is flowing above danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and Dhubri town, while its tributaries Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat and Beki at Road Bridge in Barpeta are flowing above the normal level. The rising water level of the Brahmaputra has flooded 85 per cent of KNP.

In Bihar, 12 more deaths were reported from Katihar district talking the toll to 38, as 28.20 lakh people in 12 districts were affected. Fed by heavy rains in the Terai region of Nepal, the Ganga river at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district remained above danger mark. The weather conditions in Bihar, especially in Patna, remained humid. Light rainfall was witnessed at a few places in north west, north central and south central parts since Sunday.

In Uttarakhand, a 20-year-old engineering student drowned in Tons river near Dehradun following heavy rains, while landslides in most parts of the state led to traffic disruptions. Nainital was lashed by 132.08 mm rains since Sunday.

Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rishikesh-Gangotri highways are blocked for the last four days affecting Chardham Yatra.

In Maharashtra’s Thane district, which was pounded by heavy showers, one person was killed and three others are feared drowned in rain-related incidents on Sunday. A 26-year-old man drowned in Mahuli waterfall at Sahapur in the district on Sunday. The body was later recovered.

Besides, three youths, who had gone for a swim in Tansa river at Dhakivali, were swept away yesterday. The bodies are yet to be recovered, district disaster management officer Asmita Nikam said.

In Mumbai, Vehar lake, one of the city-based reservoirs which supplies potable water to the megapolis, started overflowing, while incessant rains continued to lash Nashik for the second day today throwing normal life out of gear.

Widespread rains continued to lash parts of Rajasthan, with Mavli in Udaipur receiving maximum of 13 cm rains since yesterday. Vanasthali, Kota, Jaipur, Sriganganagar and Churu also recorded 22 mm, 12.2 mm, 9 mm, 2.8 mm and 2.6 mm rains respectively today, the MeT department said.