Assam Flood Situation Improves, 3.37 Lakh In 12 Districts Still Affected; Death Toll Reaches 23

Guwahati/ Rangia: The flood situation in Assam continued to improve with the affected population and area decreasing to around 3.37 lakh in 12 districts respectively, officials said on Sunday. An official bulletin said that the total death toll in this year’s floods and landslides is at 23, including six killed in mudslides, till Saturday.

On Saturday, a man was killed by a landslide in Guwahati, and another person died in floods in Chandrapur. According to the State Disaster Management Authority, the flooding has affected 3,37,358 individuals in 41 circles and 999 villages in 12 districts.

Major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, were on a receding trend, though a few of these continued to flow above the danger mark. Following this, ferry services which had been suspended since last week, will be partially restored over the Brahmaputra during the day. The Brahmaputra was flowing over the danger level at Dhubri, Kopili at Dharamtul, Barak at BP Ghat and Kushiyara at Sribhumi till Saturday evening.

Sribhumi has the highest number of affected people with 1,93,244 lakh, followed by Hailakandi with 73,724 and Cachar with 56,398. Cropland of 12,659 hectares remained inundated. Two districts are still reeling under ‘urban floods', affecting 284 people. Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary also remained affected by floods, officials said. Meanwhile, ferry services over the Brahmaputra in Guwahati will resume partially on Sunday, an Inland Water Transport (IWT) department release said.

The Guwahati–Madhyam Khanda Ferry Service will temporarily operate from the Guwahati Rajaduar Ferry Ghat, until the approach road on the north bank side is restored and deemed safe for ferry commuters. The Guwahati–Kurua Ferry Service will resume on Monday. The operation of wooden boats in the Guwahati area will remain prohibited and the decision regarding their resumption of services will be taken after reviewing the river conditions, the IWT release added.

In the flood-hit districts, the administration has established 201 relief camps and distribution centers where 1.47 lakh people have sought shelter. As many as 1,91,192 animals were affected by the floods. A vast swathes of 12,659 hectares of cropland are flooded.