Assam floods: Over 33,000 people affected in 4 districts, one die in Guwahati

According to the reports, a person was electrocuted during massive inundation in Guwahati on Thursday following incessant rains.

The victim has been identified as Dulal Malakar, manager of a KFC restaurant in the capital city of Assam.

Local people said that, Dulal was electrocuted at Sugam Path near zoo road in the city while he waded through knee-deep water logged area on Thursday morning.

Local people accused the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) for the incident that a severed electric wire was lying at the area in unsecured condition.

On June 13 and 14, seven persons including two students died in floods in the city.

Among the deceased, two were electrocuted.

Meanwhile, Kamrup (Metro) district administration has suspended two officials of APDCL for the incident.

The Kamrup (Metro) district administration has declared Rs 4 lakh to the family of the deceased person.

Incessant rains caused water logging at Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Kahilipara, Kalapahar, GS road, Zoo road, VIP road, Narengi and other areas in Guwahati.

Several houses were damaged following massive landslides in the city.

On the other hand, flood waters inundated over 97 villages of four districts and affecting over 33,000 people.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, water levels of Brahmaputra river and its tributaries are flowing above danger level mark in few places in the state.

Over 20,000 people are affected alone in Karimganj district, while 10,000 people in Darrang district in fresh floods.

Taking strong note on the tragic death of Dulal Malakar who was killed in an incident of flash flood induced electrocution in Guwahati, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal directed the Kamrup (Metro) district administration to immediately release ex-gratia amount of Rs 4 lakh under SDRF and another Rs 2.5 lakh from APDCL to the next of kin of the deceased person immediately.

Sonowal while reviewing the flood situation of the city at Brahmaputra State Guest House with officials of district administration and power department on Thursday further directed to take necessary steps to appoint the victim’s wife at APDCL.

The Assam CM also directed to constitute joint team of district administration, GMC, Assam Police, SDRF and APDCL to check and identify all vulnerable points and carry out necessary rectification immediately.

Sonowal directed the team to submit compliance report to him within seven days.

The Assam CM also directed to constitute local level committees to handle and respond to such situations instantly.

He asked the DC, Kamrup (Metro) to convene meeting with civic organizations of affected areas for sensitization of local people on preventive measure involving NGOs.

Sonowal also instructed to take immediate measures for pruning of old tress to avert any untoward incident in future.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)