3 lakh people affected by flood in Assam

Army has been called in to assist rescue and relief operations as the deluge turns grim with altogether nine districts hit by the flood on Friday. Nearly 3 lakh people have been affected in the ongoing second wave of flood that hit the state last month.

While in past few days situation in Barpeta and Lakhimpur districts improved, though it turned bad on Friday. Bongaigaon is the latest addition in the deluge district districts so far.

Army personnel were deployed to rescue marooned people in the Chirang district. Defence PRO Lt Col Suneet Newton said that 30 people who were stranded in their inundated village at Khungring area of Chirang were successfully rescued. Also rescue team of the army has also been assisting rescue and relief exercises in Tezpur area of Sonitpur district.

Bongaigaon is the worst hit with over 80,000 people affected, followed by Jorhat where over 75,000 people are struggling with the deluge. Also situation in Golaghat district continued to be grim since the past several days with over 74,000 people hit by the flood on Thursday.

At least 27 relief camps have been set up in the affected districts, where over 12,000 people have taken shelter.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said Brahmaputra continued to flow above danger mark at Nematighat of Jorhat, Tezpur in Sonitpur district and Dhubri. Also Brahmaputra’s tributaries-Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Beki and Sankosh are also in spate.

According to ASDMA, the extent of cropland damaged by the flood has increased to 24,934.47 hector on Friday from about 19,000 hector on Thursday. In Golaghat district alone over 9,000 hector agriculture field went under water, rendering hundreds of farmers helpless.

“I don’t know how I will feed my family after the flood is over. All my investment and labour has gone under water in this flood. Government should assist us in coping up with post-flood situation,” Diganta Saikia, a farmer from Golaghat said.

 

SOURCE: PTI