Assam flood toll climbs to 52; 25 districts affected

The flood situation in Assam remained grim on Friday as three deaths were reported and nearly 15 lakh people in 25 districts of the state still affected by the deluge which also inundated more than half of the Kaziranga National Park

According to a report by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), three persons have been killed in various flood-related incidents in Dhemaji, Dhubri and Nagaon districts.

With this, the total number of people who lost their lives in flood-related incidents this year has gone up to 52, including eight in Guwahati.

ASDMA said at present more than 14.97 lakh people have been affected by the flood in various districts, including Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Nalbari, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, Morigaon and Nagaon.

Till yesterday, 17.43 lakh people were affected in the latest wave of flood in the state.

At the Kaziranga National Park, 62 per cent of the area is under water, leaving some animals dead and some moving to nearby highlands.

Some animals were killed by speeding vehicles on the National Highway 37, which passes through the Park.

ASDMA said 2,240 villages were under water at present and more than 79,000 hectares of crop areas inundated.

The worst affected was South Salmara, where over 3.07 lakh people have been affected by the deluge, followed by Morigaon with more than 2.23 lakh people being affected.

In Guwahati also, water logging incidents have been reported, ASDMA said.

Authorities are running 363 relief camps and distribution centres in 19 districts, where 25,269 people have taken shelter.

The government has distributed 2,903.25 quintal of rice, 596.92 quintal of pulses, 366.25 quintal of salt and 472.52 litre of mustard oil among the flood victims since yesterday, ASDMA said.

Across the state, 14,18,043 animals and poultry have been affected by the flood.

Many roads, embankments and bridges have been damaged by floods in many districts, including Goalpara, South Salmara, Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Majuli, Barpeta, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Kokrajhar and Udalguri.

Brahmaputra river water was flowing above the danger mark at five places -- Guwahati, Nimatighat in Jorhat, Tezpur in Sonitpur, Goalpara and Dhubri towns.

Other rivers like Desang Naglamuragat in Sivasagar, Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat and Kushiyara in Karimganj town were flowing above the danger marks.

Union minister Kiren Rijiju and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Friday undertook an aerial survey of flood-hit districts in the state where all major roads and highways have been damaged by landslides due to heavy rains. The minister of state for home, who is leading a high- level central team comprising senior officials of the NDRF, the NDMA and the Niti Aayog, took stock of the situation in the entire state along with Khandu, deputy speaker of the Assembly Tumke Bagra and MLA Kaling Moyong.

They undertook an aerial survey of flood-affected Bambuk, Mebo, Nausai, Niyun and Sagalee areas where most parts have been either inundated or damaged because of landslides.

Floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain in the last couple of days have cut off large areas, including many district headquarters, in the state from the rest of the country, officials said.

Rijiju said, "Though the entire state has suffered and borne the brunt of rains and landslides which have damaged highways and roads, I have asked the authorities to restore the roads within a month."

Khandu said that landslides triggered by heavy rains in the last one week have affected a large part of the state and authorities are working hard to restore roads and connectivity.

"Many areas, including the Papum Pare district, have been affected by floods and landslides. Continuous rains and bad weather have been hampering efforts to improve the situation. Though some areas are yet to be visited, the government is working round the clock to help the people," the chief minister said.

"I thank the Centre for all the help they have extended to the state government," he said.

Yesterday, the Centre had released Rs 51.48 crore to the state government under the State Disaster Response Fund.

The state capital was virtually cut off with its lifeline NH-415 getting totally eroded at the entry point. The alternative road via Jullang was also blocked, leaving only one road open through Hollongi en route Lakhimpur district in Assam, they said.