Flood situation in Assam grim, over 4 lakh affected

Guwahati: Flood situation in Assam continued to be grim with over four lakh people reeling under the flood in seven districts on Saturday.

Nearly 67,175 people have taken shelter at temporary relief camps where relief materials are being distributed by the district administrations in the affected areas. Floodwaters have also disrupted road communication at many places.

The Assam Disaster Management Authority said that more than 3,86,570 people have been affected in Hojai, Karbi Anglong East, Karbi Anglong West, Golaghat, Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar. Cropland covering 1,912.08 hectare has already been inundated. A total of 471 persons have been rescued from Karimganj district, Hailakandi, Cachar and Golaghat.  The state administration has set up relief camps in Karimganj, Hailakandi, Karbi Anglong (East) and Golaghat.

Most of the border outposts on the India-Bangladesh border were submerged by the Kushiara river as flood situation worsened in Karimganj district. More than 80,000 people in 117 villages were affected by floods in Patherkandi and Karimganj circles. Altogether 56 relief camps have been opened in the district and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is evacuating people from the flood-hit areas.

Train services to Barak valley in southern Assam and Tripura’s capital Agartala remained suspended for the third day following fresh landslides, triggered by torrential rain along the Lumding-Badarpur rail section. At least 13 trains connecting Silchar, Guwahati and Agartala have been cancelled.

Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) CPRO, Pranav Jyoti Sharma said that fresh landslides occurred between Bandarkhal and Damchara station, about 36 kms ahead of Badarpur.

“Work is in progress in the affected location. Restoration of tracks is likely to take two to three days,” Mr Sharma said.

Meanwhile, people in landslide-prone areas have been asked to move to safer places during the monsoon as fear of rain-triggered landslips was looming large.

Kamrup (metro) deputy commissioner Virendra Mittal said the District Disaster Management Authority is organising landslide awareness meetings in vulnerable areas. of the city and requesting the residents to shift to safer locations during the rainy season.

A study conducted by the Assam Engineering College had identified 366 sites, mostly on the hilltops, in the city as landslide-prone.

The warning was issued following damage to a house at Birubari in Guwahati on Friday morning while another was damaged at Durgasarovar locality on Thursday evening.

The Kamrup (metro) administration has also issued evacuation notices to around 20 families under Chandrapur revenue circle, following erosion along the bank of the Brahmaputra and rise in water level. (EOM)