Assam Floods: Death toll rises to 11; over 3 lakh affected

Assam is facing severe floods across the state, with the death toll rising to 11 on Tuesday, July 21. Over 3.10 lakh people are now affected in 11 districts, officials said.

Continuous heavy rainfall in Assam and upstream Arunachal Pradesh have led to several major rivers including Brahmaputra, Dikhow, Desang and Dhansiri, to flow above danger levels. Some have even crossed the ‘extreme flood’ levels, reported PTI. The worst-hit districts are Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat and Dibrugarh.

Train services have also been hit for the second day straight, with floodwaters submerging the railway tracks in parts of Upper Assam. Special trains will run through Friday to help stranded passengers.

According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), several rescue teams from the Army, NDRF, SDRF and Fire Services are working on the ground. So far, over 9,000 people have been evacuated by boat, and more than 12,700 displaced are shifted to 52 relief camps set up across the state.

Agriculture has also taken a hit, with over 14,400 hectares of crops submerged. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said ministers, MPs and MLAs have been sent to flood-hit areas to oversee relief work across the state.