Death toll in India’s Assam flood rises to 102 as over 5,6m people remain affected

NEW DELHI — Floods in India’s northeastern state of Assam have so far killed 102 people and badly affected a population of over 5,6 million, officials said yesterday, when the country is being gripped by the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), floods have claimed five lives and affected 2,4 million people in 23 districts during the past 24 hours.

“There has been no respite in the flood situation in the state and as per cumulative figures available with us, it has hit 30 districts and affected a population of 5 671 018,” ASDMA project manager Mandira said. “The number of human lives that have been lost during this period because of flooding is 102.”

Floods hit the state on May 22 and there has been no let-up in the situation. “There has been no improvement in the weather situation which precisely is the reason waters are not receding fully,” she said. “Some times it recedes at certain places but again the situation turns grim as rains are continuing.”

According to the ASDMA, the flood water has so far inundated 5 304 villages, damaging cropland of over 259 899,44 hectares during the past 37 days.

The local government has set up relief centres in almost all the inundated districts to provide shelter to the affected population.

Locals said the majority of the people were taking shelter in houses of their friends and relatives. “In the flood-hit areas, there are around 384 joint teams from state and national disaster response teams carrying out rescue and relief efforts. So far 81 012 people were evacuated and presently 615 relief camps have been set up for the affected people,” Mandira said.