Death toll goes up to 12
From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: Over 15.14 lakh people in 16 districts have been affected by the current wave of floods in Assam that has so far claimed 12 lives. The situation has remained still grim though the rivers were showing a receding trend in eastern Assam areas.
One person drowned and two others including a male child were washed away by swollen Brahmaputra river in Lakhimpur and north Hajo.
The situation was serious in the city with areas of Gorchuk, Sunsali, Pandu, Kharguli and Fancy Bazaar submerged as the water level of Brahmaputra suddenly rose due to heavy rains in the upper reaches.
The district administration has taken all measures to ensure there is no casualty due to the rising water. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), army and para military forces are carrying out rescue and relief operations, the sources added.
Assam Agriculture Minister Nialmoni Sen Deka informed that the flood had created havoc in areas under 64 revenue circles in Assam. The authorities have set up 25 relief camps where 3.39 flood-hit are lodged. Flood water of Brahmaputra River has overtopped the National Highway 37 beside Kaziranga National Park (KNP). Official sources informed that the toll increased as three deaths due to the disaster were reported from Lakhimpur and Hajo. One person drowned and two others including a boy were washed away by swollen Brahmaputra in Lakhimpur and north Hajo.
The situation was serious in Guwahati city with areas of Gorchuk, Sunsali, Pandu, Kharguli and Fancy Bazaar submerged as the water level of Brahmaputra suddenly rose due to heavy rains in the upper reaches.
The district administration has taken all measures to ensure there is no casualty due to the rising water. The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), State Disaster Relief Force (SDRF), Army and para military forces are carrying out rescue and relief operations, the sources added.
Though the rivers are showing receding trend in Eastern Assam due to let up rainfall, the water level in rivers is rising in Western Assam areas.
In Arunachal Pradesh, with five more deaths reported from remote Anjaw district bordering China, the toll in the current floods in Arunachal Pradesh rose to nine on Tuesday, while four persons were missing in worst-affected Lohit district.
All seven administrative centres – Hayuliang, Hawai, Manchal, Goliang, Walong, Kibitho and Chaglogam were completely cut off, Economic Adviser to CM Kalikho Pul said. The five deaths were reported from different parts of the hilly district.
There were 30 to 35 major breaches on the Tezu-Hayuliang Road which has become unmotorable, leaving thousand stranded in the district which was devastated by landslides and floods triggered by torrential rain since September 16.
A population of 21,000 were without food, water, electricity, fuel and domestic LPG cylinders, with water supply lines washed away and telephone and electric posts uprooted, Pul said. With road communications disrupted, and telephone and electricity snapped for the last nine days, assessing the magnitude of the devastation was next to impossible, Pul said.
Though there was acute shortage of rations and requisition sent to the state government, ration sorties were not possible because of constant bad weather, he said. (With input from PTI)