FLOODS IN ASSAM, OVER 80,000 AFFECTED

NEW DELHI: The incessant rains, with the onset of the monsoon last week, in Assam has brought with itself floods, devastation and damage. At least two people have died and over 80,000 have been affected by the floods caused by the relentless rains. Rivers, including the Brahmaputra, are overflowing, at least 10 districts have been severely affected and crops have been badly damaged.

The Brahmaputra and Jia Bharali rivers are flowing above danger mark at some places, affecting people in 113 villages across Barpeta, Sonitpur, Dhemaji, Bongaigaon, Lakhimpur, Tinsukia, Darrang, Nalbari and Goalpara districts, informed the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

At least 18 revenue circles in 10 districts have been severely hit, read the daily flood report issued by ASDMA on Tuesday. The two districts in northern and eastern Assam -Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, however, are the worst hit, affecting at least 45,000 people.

While 25,000 people have been affected in the Lakhimpur district alone 19,300 and 13,950 people are hit in Sonitpur and Barpeta districts respectively.

Three relief camps have been set up by the authorities in another hard hit district, Tinsukia.

Relief camps at other affected areas are also in the process of being set up. The state revenue department said it is trying to open relief camps and supply relief materials to the affected areas. "We are assessing the situation. The situation is still not that grim. We have made all arrangements to face the situation," a senior government official said.

A considerable section of the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in the Tinsukia district has been submerged by the rising levels of the Brahmaputra.

Further, the floodwaters have entered the Kaziranga National Park as well, forcing animals to move to drier and safer areas.

The overflowing rivers have led to hundreds of villages been inundated and left thousands of villagers stranded. Large amounts of crop has been damaged since crop fields have also been submerged under floodwaters.

According to the ASDMA report, around 38,000 hectares of standing crop, mostly paddy, have been damaged by the overflowing rivers.

Meanwhile, the weather department has predicted more monsoon rains in the coming days.