GUWAHATI
The flood situation in Assam worsened over the last 24 hours, leaving one person dead and affecting 4,95,799 people across 22 districts and subdivisions.
A spokesperson of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said periodic bursts of heavy rainfall increased the number of flood-affected people by more than 3 lakh overnight.
“A person was killed in the Goreswar Circle of Tamulpur subdivision,” she said.
The situation in Bajali, a district-turned-subdivision in western Assam, was reported to be the worst with 2,60,385 people affected. The Nalbari and Barpeta districts, also in western Assam, followed with 77,702 and 65,221 people affected, respectively.
Among the affected, 14,035 people have moved into 162 relief camps. They included 2,268 children, 90 pregnant or lactating women, and 47 persons with disability, ASDMA officials said.
Rescue agencies such as the National Disaster Response Force have deployed 19 boats in the most vulnerable areas, rescuing 561 people and 43 animals. A total of 58 medical teams have also been deployed to attend to the needs of the flood victims.
Above danger mark
Apart from the Brahmaputra, the Beki, Manas, Pagladiya, and Puthimari rivers were flowing above the danger mark at several stretches.
“So far, 14,091.9 hectares of crop area have been affected and 90 domesticated animals have been washed away,” the ASDMA spokesperson said, adding that several roads, bridges, and embankments had been washed away or damaged.
“There are no reports of any damage to the protected areas and wildlife,” she said.
Officials at flood-prone wildlife habitats such as the Kaziranga National Park and the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary said they were preparing for the worst.
Intermittent moderate to heavy rainfall has affected large swathes of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya too. Flash floods, landslides and mudflows have reportedly killed nine people in Meghalaya.
