Emergency declared as Assam sees worst floods in 50 years
A state of emergency was declared in on Wednesday, with authorities describing the flooding as the worst in 50 years.
A state of emergency was declared in Assam on Wednesday, with authorities describing the flooding as the worst in 50 years.
"Please treat this (floods) as an emergency as this is the biggest flood in 50 years," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said in a letter of appeal for funds to the federal government.
"There may be further devastation in the coming days because flood-management structures throughout the state have been damaged by the two successive waves of floods this year," the letter warned.
At least 3.7 million people have been displaced in more than two weeks of devastating floods in Assam, which have swamped more than 20 of the states 24 districts.
Officials reported another three flood-related drownings on Tuesday, taking the death toll in the state to 28 and in India to 76 since a second wave of flooding began on June 27 following lashing monsoon rains.
"Two children and an elderly person died in separate incidents after their boats capsized on Tuesday in the northern Darrang and eastern Dhemaji districts of Assam," a police official told AFP.
"All three victims drowned while trying to move to safer areas when floodwaters inundated their homes."
About 400,000 people were displaced during the first wave of floods in early June in Assam, but the waters later receded. No deaths were reported in the first wave of flooding.
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