Assam flood toll rises to 87, nearly 1.3 lakh still affected

The toll in Assam’s flood rose to 87 with two more fatalities, and nearly 1.3 lakh people were still affected by the deluge even though water was receding from most of the inundated areas across the State, officials said on Tuesday.

However, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted extremely heavy rain with thunderstorms in Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya for the next few days, which could affect several Assam districts bordering the two States.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited many flood-affected areas and rehabilitation centres in Upper Assam on Tuesday. “By meeting with the flood-affected families, I and our team are continuously monitoring the process of relief, compensation, and rehabilitation. At the same time, the work of draining water from the flood-affected areas is also proceeding rapidly,” said Sarma, urging people to donate to CM’s Relief Fund.

Union Health Minister JP Nadda also reached Guwahati to monitor the situation.

“The weather pattern suggests that thunderstorms with lightning and extremely heavy rainfall (orange and red warnings) are expected at most places of East Khasi Hills, West Jaintia Hills and East Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya and Papumpare, Kurung Kumey, East Kameng, East Siang, Lohit and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh. This may impact the neighbouring districts of Assam,” the weather office said.

A yellow warning (watch) has also been issued by IMD for most parts of Nagaland, which could impact Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat districts of Assam, it said. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin issued on Monday night, two deaths were reported from Sivasagar district in the last 24 hours. With these fatalities, the toll in this year’s flood reached 87.

“Although reports of overnight rain were received from most of the flood-hit Upper Assam districts, water levels continued to recede from the inundated villages, giving some respite to the villagers,” an ASDMA official said.

Altogether 1,28,000 people remained affected by the deluge across six districts, with Sivasagar being the worst-hit with over 55,000 impacted, followed by Charaideo (nearly 35,000) and Jorhat (more than 20,000).

The ASDMA said the administration has been operating 55 relief camps and relief distribution centres in five districts, currently taking care of 11,250 affected people.

Multiple agencies, including medical and veterinary teams, have been deployed in different flood-relief operations in the affected areas.

A crop area of 14,230.15 hectares remained submerged. Due to widespread flooding, almost 55,000 animals have been washed away, while another 35,000 have been affected.

Damage to various infrastructure, including embankments, houses, roads, schools and other public properties, was also reported from various parts, the ASDMA bulletin added. At present, the Dhansiri river at Numaligarh is flowing above the danger level, it added.