Assam floods worsen as death toll reaches six, over 7.2 lakh people affected

Guwahati: Floods continued to batter large parts of Assam on Friday, affecting more than 7.21 lakh people across 11 districts, while the death toll in the current spell of flooding rose to six, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

The affected districts are Golaghat, Hojai, Kamrup, Charaideo, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Nagaon, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong and Tinsukia. Floodwaters have inundated 37 revenue circles and 883 villages, while over 25,375 hectares of agricultural land remain submerged, causing extensive crop damage.

Sivasagar is the worst-hit district, with 3,75,682 people affected, followed by Charaideo (1,86,351) and Jorhat (1,15,764).

According to the ASDMA, six people have lost their lives in flood-related incidents so far, including four in Sivasagar and two in Charaideo. No missing persons have been reported in the latest flood bulletin.

The flooding has also disrupted urban areas in Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan and Dibrugarh districts. Five revenue circles and 17 localities or wards have been affected, impacting 592 people and disrupting normal life in several low-lying neighbourhoods.

To assist those affected, authorities have set up 103 relief camps and 255 relief distribution centres across the state. More than 24,000 people are currently taking shelter in relief camps, while over 2.39 lakh people have received relief assistance.

Rescue operations are continuing in the worst-affected districts with teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Army, Fire and Emergency Services, district administrations and local volunteers. So far, 4,455 people have been evacuated by boats.

Meanwhile, the Central Water Commission said several rivers, including the Burhidihing, Disang, Dikhow, Dhansiri (South) and Kushiyara, are flowing above the danger mark, prompting authorities to remain on high alert across the flood-affected regions.

With inputs from IANS