Toll in Assam flood fury climbs to 44
Rising water levels have affected over 17 lakh people in 24 of state’s 32 districts
GUWAHATI: Five more people were killed as floods continued to wreak havoc across Assam on Wednesday, taking the total number of deaths to 44.
According to state disaster management authority, one death each was reported from Majuli, Sivasagar, Dhemaji, Golaghat and Nagaon districts.
Rising water levels in rivers and low lying areas in the state have affected over 17 lakh people in 24 of the state’s 32 districts. Official figures say over 31,000 people are displaced and are taking shelter in 294 relief camps.
“Our government is extending all possible help in rescue and relief operations.
Efforts are underway at all levels to ensure that the flood affected are taken care of,” chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal said while visiting flood-hit Majuli river island on Wednesday.
The affected districts are Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Darrang, Jorhat, Golaghat, Cachar, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Karimganj, Sonitpur, Majuli, Barpeta, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Marigaon, Chirang, Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Kokrajhar, South Salmara, Charaideo, Goalpara and Karbi Anglong.
The Brahmaputra flowed above the danger level at Neematighat, Tezpur, Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri on Wednesday. Nearly 2,500 villages are inundated across the state and 1,05,860 hectares of crop area affected.