Flood situation grim in Assam, over 7.35 lakh affected

The flood situation remained critical in Assam, affecting over 7.35 lakh people from 1,597 villages in 56 revenue circles spread over 18 districts where one lakh hectares of cropland have been inundated by the surging waters of the swollen Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

Over 1,100 villages and localities are reeling under the flood waters in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Sonitpur, Barpeta, Jorhat, Goalpara, Morigaon, Cachar, Golaghat and Nagaon districts, according to the daily flood bulletin of the Assam state disaster management authority.

The current wave of floods has claimed 13 lives so far and one lakh hectares of cropland has been submerged.

A mother and her minor son were washed away by River Sessa at Thakuthan on the outskirts of Dibrugarh city on Sunday night when they were going to a relief camp there, an official said.

Monika Das, 36,, her husband Milon Das and son Dudu, six, were washed away by the river, but her husband was rescued by the people, while the two others remained untraced, he said.

The Brahmaputra has been flowing above the danger level in Dibrugarh, Nematighat in Jorhat and Dhubri, while the Jia Bharali at N T Road Crossing in Sonitpur, Puthimari at NH Road Crossing in Kamrup, Beki at Road Bridge in Barpeta, Katakhal at Matijuri in Hailakandi and Kushiara in Karimganj district, the bulletin said.

There are also reports of the overflowing flood waters damaging roads in Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Goalpara and Nagaon, while two bridges have been damaged in Sonitpur district, it said.

Incessant heavy showers for the past four days have caused water-logging in the tea city Dibrugarh where one person was electrocuted and over 50,000 people affected prompting the administration to close educational institutions on Monday, officials said.

Nearly 1,900 relief camps have been opened for the succour of the flood-hit people across the affected districts where the state Disaster Response Force has pressed boats into service for rescue the marooned people, the bulletin said.

Reviewing the situation arising out of increasing water levels in the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers and their tributaries in different districts of the state, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi directed the officers to keep constant vigil over the situation and take immediate remedial steps.

Gogoi also directed the state Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia to ensure that communication is not snapped due to flood and all efforts should be initiated to restore communication.

Gogoi also enquired about rising water level and amount of rainfall likely to occur in the next 48 hours and asked different departments especially PHE and health to take necessary steps.

The state government has, meanwhile, sought an interim amount of Rs 500 crore from the Centre for relief, rehabilitation and repair works in flood affected areas.

With inputs from Anurag Kashyap.