Flood situation grim in Assam, 96 dead

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam continues to be grim with a population of nearly 28 lakh affected by the flood creating an havoc in 26 districts. The death toll in the flood has increased to 96 with three more fatalities reported from Morigaon, Kokrajhar and Barpeta districts.

The flood situation remained grim in Assam and Bihar on Saturday with one more death reported from the northeastern state and nearly 36 lakh people affected in total.

Though, situation had started improving in some of the flood hit districts but heavy rains in neighbouring hilly states have once again inundated the areas. The death toll in the flood has increased to 96 with three more fatalities reported from Morigaon, Kokrajhar and Barpeta districts. The flood waters have inundated 1,22,573 hectares of cropland. A total of 50,136 flood-affected people are taking shelter in 496 relief camps across the state.

President Ram Nath Kovind who spoke to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has also flagged off nine trucks carrying Red Cross relief supplies to the flood- and Covid-affected states including Assam. The materials include tarpaulin, tents, clothing, blankets, kitchen sets, mosquito nets, buckets and bed-sheets, etc.

Meanwhile, Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton expressed concern and distress over the devastation caused in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park by floods which has killed many animals and affected livelihood of several people. The park has been hit by three waves of flood so far this year with 85 per cent of its area still submerged in waters and 125 animals, including 12 rhinos, dead.

In a letter to the park’s director P. Sivakumar, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge said that they were heartbroken to hear about the appalling devastation to the Kaziranga National Park and its wildlife caused by very heavy monsoon flooding.

“We have the happiest memories of our visit to Kaziranga in April 2016 and are shocked by what has happened,” Prince William wrote in the letter, which was made available to the media by park authorities.

The death toll due to floods and landslides has reached 123 in Assam, and 10 people have died due to the deluge in Bihar.

◗ FLOOD WATERS have inundated 1,22,573 hectares of cropland. A total of 50,136 floodaffected people are taking shelter in 496 relief camps across the Assam