Over 24 lakh still affected in Assam floods; death toll rises to 85

Over 48,000 persons displaced by flood waters have taken shelter in 468 relief camps and nearly 1.10 lakh hectares of crop area in the affected districts is submerged under water, according to the bulletin.

Updated on: Jul 21, 2020, 24:22:47 IST

Hindustan Times, Guwahati | By Utpal Parashar

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Assam continued to reel under floods on Monday with over 24 lakh people still affected across the state while the death toll rose to 85.

A boy transports a pot on a makeshift raft through a flooded area in Morigaon district, in the northeastern state of Assam on July 20, 2020. (Reuters Photo)

According to a bulletin issued by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 2,254 villages in 70 revenue circles across 24 of the state’s 33 districts are still affected by floods.

Over 48,000 persons displaced by flood waters have taken shelter in 468 relief camps and nearly 1.10 lakh hectares of crop area in the affected districts is submerged under water, according to the bulletin.

State disaster response force personnel and police rescued 291 stranded persons in 9 of the affected districts using boats and shifted them to safer locations during Monday.

Several roads, embankments, bridges in five of the affected districts got damaged due to flood waters. Heavy erosion was reported from Majuli, Baksa, Sonitpur and Udalguri districts.

According to Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) authorities, around 85% of the park spread over 430 sq km continued to be inundated. Till date, 113 animals including 9 rhinos that died due to drowning have been killed this monsoon in and around the park.

As per a bulletin issued by Central Water Commission (CWC) most rivers in Assam continued to be in spate with Brahmaputra, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Kapili, Beki and Kushiyara flowing above the danger mark at several places.

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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