Assam floods: 2.72 lakh people affected, situation remains critical

DISPUR, Assam: Nearly 2.72 lakh people in 15 districts in Assam have been affected due to incessant rain, causing flood situation in the state. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has reported that 874 villages under 37 revenue circles in Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Nalbari, and Tamulpur districts are currently underwater.

In Barpeta district alone, 1.70 lakh people have been affected; while the number of affected is 60,707 people in Bajali, 22,060 people in Lakhimpur, and 10,351 individuals in Nalbari district.

The flood water has submerged 5,936.63 hectares of cropland in the flood-hit districts.

In the last 24 hours, the flood water has washed away 222 animals in the Nalbari district, damaged 1,290 houses in Nalbari and Tamulpur districts, breached three embankments, and damaged seven embankments, 50 roads, three bridges, several Anganwadi centres and irrigation canals.

Although the overall flood situation is improving, the situation in the Barpeta district is still concerning. Around 1.20 lakh people have been affected in the Sarthebari revenue circle; 44,394 in the Barpeta revenue circle; 3,255 in the Chenga revenue circle and 1,743 in the Baghbar revenue circle of the Barpeta district. 382.75 hectares of cropland in the Barpeta district is underwater and nearly 1.05 lakh domestic animals have been affected. The district administration has set up 59 relief camps and 53 relief distribution centres along with distributing 1,477.77 quintals of rice, 248.27 quintals of dal, 74.09 quintals of salt, and 7,478.88 litres of mustard oil among the flood-affected people. It has also distributed 1,646.20 quintals of cattle feed.

Rescue activities have been carried out by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and fire and emergency services personnel.