Flood fury continues in Assam; 10 more deaths take toll to 28

With 10 more deaths reported from eight of the affected districts, the total death toll in the second wave of floods rose to 28. The first deluge in July had resulted in 84 deaths.

Published on: Aug 15, 2017, 19:40:24 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar, Guwahati

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Floods continued to wreak havoc across Assam for the sixth consecutive day on Tuesday submerging large areas in 25 of the state’s 33 districts.

State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel evacuate villagers affected by a flood in Kaliabor area in Nagaon district in Assam. (REUTERS)

With 10 more deaths reported from eight of the affected districts, the total death toll in the second wave of floods rose to 28. The first deluge in July had resulted in 84 deaths.

Over 1.67 lakh people displaced by floods continue to be sheltered in 545 relief camps. More than 33.27 lakh people remain affected and 3,186 villages are inundated.

The Brahmaputra continued to flow above danger level at 5 places — Neematighat, Tezpur, Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri. Seven other smaller rivers crossed the red mark at one place each.

Units of national and state disaster response forces continued rescue operations in the worst-affected districts. More than 14,000 flood-affected people were shifted to safer areas on Tuesday using 232 boats.

Breaches and erosion of embankments were reported from Kokrajhar, Nagaon and Golaghat districts. Damage to roads and bridges were also recorded in eight districts.

This season’s floods, termed the ‘worst in decades’, has damaged crops in over 3.19 hectares of land in 31 districts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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