Fresh flood hits over 6.5 lakh people in Assam

 According to the reports one person was dead in Lakhimpur district on Sunday and death toll rose to 12 in the current flood situation in the state.

Flood waters had submerged 45,932.75 hectare agricultural land in Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Bongaigaon, Jorhat, Dhemaji, Sivsagar, Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Nagaon, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Goalpara, Tinsukia and Dhubri district.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said that over 6.5 lakh people of 14 districts are affected in the fresh flood.

On the other hand, the flood situation in Jorhat, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Bongaigaon district remained unchanged as more areas were inundated by flood waters.

“A total of 1,10,344 people are affected alone in Jorhat district, while 1,05,474 people in Dhemaji, 78,688 people in Golaghat, 51,901 people in Bongaigaon district are affected,” an official of ASDMA said.

The water level of Brahmaputra has crossed danger level mark in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Goalpara, Dhubri district.

On the other hand, flood waters submerged several areas in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and Pobitora wildlife sanctuary.

Animals, including one horned rhinoceros, in KNP had crossed the NH-37 and took shelter at nearby Karbi hills.

An official of KNP said that already 70 percent areas of the national park were inundated by flood waters.

“We have taken all possible measures to protect wild animals of the park during the flood,” the forest official said.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday called for an emergency meeting for the current flood situation in the state and instructed to the government departments to take all possible measures to tackle the situation.

Meanwhile, Assam governor P.B. Acharya on Sunday  surveyed the flood affected areas by helicopter and expressed great concern for the prevailing flood situation in the state and expressed deep compassion with the people reeling under flood.

In a statement, Acharya said that he is concerned that the current spell of flood is causing sufferings to the people in affected districts.

“I express my empathy with the core of my heart and assure all that the state government with all its manpower and materials are up there to help the people in distress,” Acharya said.

The Assam governor asked the government functionaries to reach out to the flood affected people and help them whole heartedly with relief materials.                                                       

Acharya stated that all efforts should be directed towards relief and rehabilitation works to help the flood affected people including the livestock.

The Assam governor also asked the state government to take all necessary steps to help evacuate the marooned people and shift them to safer places.