Death toll rises to 67 as Assam grapples with flood aftermath

GUWAHATI: Assam has suffered huge losses in terms of lives, property, cropped land, dwelling units and infrastructure in the three waves of flood this season, according to an official communiqué. Altogether 67 persons lost their lives in this year’s flood.

The last deluge wrecked havoc in Kamrup and Goalpara, claiming several lives and leaving behind a trail of destruction.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department has collated estimated reports from 23 flood-hit districts of the state, namely Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup (M), Kamrup, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri.

According to the official communiqué, 42,03,609 populace of 4,446 villages have been affected by the floods which rendered tens of thousands of people homeless.

Around 54,088 houses have been fully damaged while 82,095 houses have been partially damaged. About 800 relief camps have been opened which are housing 7,57,467 inmates. 3,72,178.40 hectare of cropped area has been affected while 10,91,493 livestock has been affected. 884 roads, 86 RCC bridges, 113 SPT bridges and 125 culverts have been damaged. A number of breaches have also taken place at Ranganadi, Morapa gladia, Dohkonia, Brahmajan, Brahmaputa, Buridehing, Krishnai, Damas and Saralbangha embankments.