Waters recede but over 31.5k displaced still in relief camps

GUWAHATI Clear skies for three consecutive days have resulted in improvement in the flood situation across Assam.

As per the state disaster management authority, the number of affected districts dropped to 12 on Tuesday — from two dozen last week. No flood-related deaths were reported in the past 24 hours. Seventy people have lost their lives in the second deluge this season. The first one in July claimed 84 lives, taking the total death count to 154 this year.

Despite the water levels receding, over 11 lakh people continue to remain affected. Over 31,500 of the displaced are still residing in 261 relief camps set up in nine flood-affected districts. Crop area spread over 68,000 hectares in 1,000 villages remain inundated across the state. The Brahmaputra continues to flow above danger level at Neematighat and Dhubri while Dhansiri and Kopili crossed the red mark at one place each.

SITUATION IMPROVES IN WEST BENGAL

The situation in the flood-ravaged districts of north West Bengal improved further as water receded from most of the submerged in the absence of major rainfall in the region, a senior official of the state disaster management department said on Wednesday. There was no report of any death from the six deluge-hit districts. The flood toll has plateaued at 152, he said, adding that distribution of relief material, including cooked and dry food, pulses and medicines continued.

Out of nearly 800 relief camps opened in the six districts of Cooch Behar, Malda, Uttar Dinajpur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Alipurduar and Jalpaiguri, around 500 are operating wherein close to four lakh people area putting up, he said.