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Assam: Floods claim five more lives, death toll rises to 44
Nearly 2,500 villages are inundated across the state and 1,05,860 hectares of crop area affected.
Five more people were killed as floods continued to wreak havoc across Assam on Wednesday, lives taking the total number of deaths to 44.
According to state disaster management authority, one death each was reported from Majuli, Sivasagar, Dhemaji, Golaghat and Nagaon districts.
Rising water levels in rivers and low lying areas in the state have affected over 17 lakh people in 24 of the state’s 28 districts. Official figures say over 31,000 people are displaced and are taking shelter in 294 relief camps.
“Our government is extending all possible help in rescue and relief operations. Efforts are underway at all levels to ensure that the flood affected are taken care of,” chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said in Majuli on Wednesday.
The affected districts are Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Darrang, Jorhat, Golaghat, Cachar, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Karimganj, Sonitpur, Majuli, Barpeta, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Marigaon, Chirang, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Kokrajhar, South Salmara, Charaideo, Goalpara and Karbi Anglong.
The Brahmaputra flowed above the danger level at Neematighat, Tezpur, Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri on Wednesday. Rivers Burhidihing, Subansiri, Dikhow, Disang, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Beki, Sankosh and Kushiyara also flowed above the red mark.
Nearly 2,500 villages are inundated across the state and 1,05,860 hectares of crop area affected. Around 10 lakh animals, including poultry, have been affected and 1652 houses damaged on Wednesday.
Flood waters have breached several embankments along rivers, damaged roads and bridges, led to landslides and erosions across Assam.
National parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state are flooded. Over 73% of the total 430 sq km area of Kaziranga national park is under water and three deer died due to drowning on Wednesday.
PM speaks to Khandu on Arunachal Pradesh flood situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday to take stock of the damage caused by floods and landslides in the state.
An estimated 14 people (all from one family) lost their lives in a landslide at Laptap village, nearly 3-hours by road from capital Itanagar, on Tuesday.
Expressing his anguish at the situation, PM Modi tweeted on Wednesday: “I am anguished by the situation arising due to floods in various parts of the Northeast. I share the pain of all those affected by floods.”
“The entire nation stands with the people of Northeast during this time. Centre assures all possible help to normalise the situation,” he added in another tweet.
Assuring the state of all possible help, Modi told Khandu that the Centre is monitoring the situation. The PM has instructed union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju to oversee rescue and relief operations in the state.
