The flood situation has started worsening in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh with heavy rains in sub-Himalayan range starting from West Bengal to Arunachal Pradesh. At least three persons have drowned in floodwater.
The Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger level throughout its length of 890 km in Assam, while the tributaries — Dhansiri, Jia-Bharali, Puthimari, Beki and Sankosh — were also in spate, flowing above the red mark, overtopping embankments and inundating both villages and standing crop in different districts.
More than 84 thousand people have been affected in western Assam’s Bongaigaon district alone. In some of the areas, power supply has also been disrupted due to heavy rain and flood.
According to the state disaster management cell, nearly 12,500 people have taken shelter in relief camps. Thousands of hectares of crops, educational institutes and roads have also been inundated.
The Army has been pressed into service to undertake rescue and relief works in the flood-hit districts. More than half of Kaziranga national park is under floodwater, while nearly 60 per cent area of Pobitara wildlife sanctuary has also been submerged. A large number of wild animals of the park have taken shelter on highlands created in the park.
Authorities have issued flood alert in Kokrajhar and Chirang districts. In the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh, incessant rain for the past few weeks have inundated the area. In Namsai district, the Noa-Dehing river is flowing above danger level and has submerged many low-lying areas, including some part of the Namsai Township.
In east Siang district, heavy rain has submerged parts of Pasighat Township. Road communication has been disrupted following landslides at many places in upper Subansiri, Dibang and lower Dibang Valley districts, sources in the state government said.
The weather department has predicted heavy rain on Sunday at few places in Assam and sub-Himalayan range. The state administration has started moving people living in low areas to safer places.
