Assam flood: Death toll climbs to 40, over 15.18 people of 23 districts affected

According to the reports of Assam Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), six people were drowned in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Sivsagar, Barpeta and Kamrup (Metro) districts on Tuesday.

A top official of ASDMA said that, over 15.18 lakh people of Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Darrang, Jorhat, Golaghat, Cachar, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Karimganj, Sonitpur, Majuli, Barpeta, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivsagar, Morigaon, Chirang, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Kokrajhar, South Salmara, Charaideo, Goalpara district are affected in the current flood.

The flood waters submerged 1,40,837,42 hectares agricultural land of 2498 villages under 82 revenue circles of the flood affected districts.

“Over 3.09 lakh are affected alone in flood-hit Lakhimpur district, while 2.82 lakh people affected in South Salmara, 1.93 lakh in Dhemaji, 1.55 lakh in Morigaon district,” the ASDMA official said.

On the other hand, over 48,000 people are homeless and they had taken shelter in the 208 numbers temporary based relief camps in 16 worst affected districts.

The flood situation turned worse in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji district after the release of excess water by Ronganodi Hydro Power Project of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) breached Ranganadi embankment at Bogolijaan area under North Lakhimpur revenue circle and inundated over 200 villages in the northern Assam districts on Tuesday morning.

The ASDMA report said that, water level of Brahmaputra river has flown above danger level mark in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Tezpur, Goalpara, Dhubri while its tributaries Siang flown above danger level mark at Pasighat in East Siang district in Arunachal Pradesh, Burhidehing in Dibrugarh, Subansiri in Lakhimpur, Dikhow in Sivsagar, Dhansiri in Golaghat, Jia Bharali in Sonitpur, Puthimari in Kamrup, Beki in Barpeta, Sankosh in Dhubri and Kushiyara in Karimganj following incessant rains in Assam and neighbouring states Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland in past couple of days.

On the other hand, the current flood claimed 20 wild animals including two one horned rhinos in Kaziranga National Park.

Flood waters havealready inundated over 83 per cent areas of the world heritage site and the wild animals of the park have been forced to move safer places.

Meanwhile, Assam Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Tuesday visited flood affected Nagaon district and spent time with the flood hit people in the relief camps.

He took stock of the relief materials being provided at the camp and directed district administration to make adequate arrangement for pure drinking water, medicines, sanitation and baby food.
          
Swollen by heavy monsoon rains, Brahmaputra and its tributaries have flooded parts of Nagaon district affecting more than 30 thousand people in five revenue circles prompting district administration to set up eight relief camps and nine distribution centres in the district.

Governor Purohit asked Deputy Commissioner to take care of the medical facilities of the camp especially that of aged people, lactating mothers and babies.

He also asked Addl.Superintendent of Police to ensure security to the camp inmates.
          
The Assam Governor visited Kaliabor revenue circle where flood water have inundated several revenue villages.

Purohit visited the relief camps at Silghat Balika LP School in Bihdubi No.1/2 village, Salona Bapuji High School, Amlokhi ME and High school, Kalapani village and spoke to the camp inmates and assured all possible help from the administration to lessen their plight.
          
He also took stock of the preliminary flood induced damages to the properties, crop land and of course cattle and assured flood victims that he will compensate their loss with adequate intervention from the state and the central government.

Governor Purohit also asked Deputy Commissioner Shamser Singh to keep his administrative machinery on the toes to have a round the clock vigil on the Kaziranga National Park and its animals strayed by the flood water.

After inspection of the flood relief camps, Governor Purohit also expressed satisfaction over the arrangements made in the relief camps by the district administration.
          
Minister Water Resources Keshab Mahanta, MLA Raha Dimbeswar Das, Deputy Commissioner Shamser Singh, Addl.Superintendent of Police Nagaon, SDO (C) Kaliabor and several senior officers were present during Governor’s visit to the flood hit areas.

(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)