Assam flood situation worsens

Guwahati, Aug 12: The overall flood situation in the State turned grim on Saturday with most of the rivers flowing above danger levels in many areas.

According to the Assam State Disaster Magement Authority (ASDMA), 10 lives have been lost in the floods till Saturday, while one person is reported to be missing. 

Nine rivers – the Brahmaputra, Buridehing, Subansiri, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Puthimari, Beki, Gaurang and Sankosh – are flowing above their danger levels. The Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat, Dibrugarh, Tezpur and Dhubri, the ASDMA stated in a bulletin on Saturday evening.

Meanwhile, the floodwaters have affected 10,99,217 people in 1,752 villages under 66 revenue villages across 19 districts. Dhubri district has been the worst hit with 1.92 lakh people being affected so far. The number of villages affected has been highest in Dhemaji district – 339. 

The 19 districts that have been affected by this second wave of floods are Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswath, Sonitpur, Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Morigaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia.  Crop area measuring about 1,00,441.70 hectares has been badly affected.

For the aid of the flood affected, 137 relief camps and 131 relief distribution centres have been opened. Currently, 63,797 individuals are taking shelter in the relief camps.

The deluge has left 56 houses fully damaged, while 13 houses have been damaged partially.

Personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and tiol Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are currently engaged in rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas of the State. The Army is also engaged in rescue and relief operations in lower Assam. 

On the other hand, 11 anti-poaching camps in Dibru Saikhowa tiol Park are under floodwaters. 

Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal visited two flood relief camps situated at Dhelakhat in Tinsukia district and Dinjoy Hazarimal Higher Secondary School in Dibrugarh district, and enquired about the arrangements made for inmates of the camps. He also interacted with the inmates.

Later talking to mediapersons, the Chief Minister said that his government’s first priority is to provide relief materials to all flood-hit people at this hour and all Deputy Commissioners have been instructed to ensure adequate flood relief to affected people. Proper rehabilitation measures have been taken for affected people and no stone would be left unturned in helping the distraught people at this hour, he added.