1 more dies in Assam flood, toll rises to 21

Guwahati/Aizawl: The devastating flood in Assam claimed one more life since Tuesday as the situation remained critical, while displaced people returned home in neighbouring state of Mizoram after rain stopped.

In Assam, nearly 5.15 lakh people remained affected across five districts.

According to a report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), one person died in flood-related incident at Patharkandi revenue circle in Karimganj district during the last 24 hours.

With this, the death toll in the state has gone up to 21, including three in landslides.

The ASDMA said about 5.15 lakh people are affected at present in Nagaon, Hojai, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts.

Till Tuesday, 5.64 lakh people were hit by flood across six districts in Assam.

As per the report issued today, Karimganj is the worst-hit with nearly 2.37 lakh people affected, followed by Hailakandi with over 1.67 lakh. At present, 671 villages are under water and 3,548 hectares of crop areas have been damaged, the ASDMA said.

Authorities are running 351 relief camps and distribution centres in four districts where 1,49,129 people have taken shelter, it said.

At least 9,143 people have been evacuated during the past 24 hours by the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force personnel from Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar.