STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The current wave of floods claimed three more lives in Assam in the past 24 hours, taking the toll to 79 even as the main rivers and their tributaries were flowing above the danger level at various places across the State. On the other hand, over 17 lakh people in 26 districts are affected. Two persons person died at Baghbar in Barpeta district; and one person at Mankachar in South Salmara district.
According to the daily flood bulletin issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 26 of the 33 total districts of the State — reeling under flood fury are Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, KarbiAnglong, and Cachar – were reeling under floodwaters, affecting 27,63,719 people in 2,678 villages or localities under 79 revenue circles.
The Brahmaputra at Neamatighat was flowing above the danger level in Jorhat, Sonitpur in Tezpur, Goalpara and Dhubri; the Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat; the Jia Bharali at NT Road Crossing in Sonitpur; the Kopili at Dharamtul in Nagaon; the Beki at Road Bridge in Barpeta; and the Kushiyara in Karimganj district was flowing above the danger level.
In the affected districts, floodwaters submerged 1,16,404.01 hectares of cropland, causing extensive damage to paddy cultivation. Till Saturday evening, 47,465 flood-hit people are taking shelter in 649 relief camps across the State.
Along with humans, floods affected 11,06,777 big animals; 6,23,395 small animals; and 10,84,005 poultry.
Floodwaters have also damaged a number of embankments with several stretches of roads. In this period, a number of incidents of flood-triggered erosion have also been reported.
Floodwaters have also affected 59 camps in Kaziranga National Park (KNP).