Guwahati: Flood situation in Assam turned for the worse today with flood water inundating more areas in the state even as death toll rose to 30 with report of death of two more persons due to flood.
The current wave of flood has affected 20 out of the total 32 districts in the state and affected over 12.55 lakh people spread over 2053 villages under 67 Revenue Circles.
Red alert has been declared in the worst-affected Lakhimpur district by the administration because of release of water from Ranganadi Hydel Power Project of the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO) for the protection of the dam structure.
The situation has turned wore in neighbouring Dhemaji district too because of incessant rains in upstream areas in Arunachal Pradesh. Over 50 villages have been inundated in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli districts so far. Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday inspected an erosion affected area at Lahorighat under Morigaon district.
Alert has been sounded in Kaziranga National Park, the famed rhino abode as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where flood water has so far inundated over 70 percent of the wildlife habitat driving the animals to the foothill areas across the national highway to the south of the sprawling park that is spread on both banks of the mighty Brahmaputra River that is on spate.
Assam forest minister Promila Rani Brahma on Monday visited the flood-ravaged Kaziranga National Park on a motor boat to take stock of the situation and talked to the forest staff who have been toiling hard in the flood to protect the flood-hit animals which are exposed to poachers on the prowl.
The minister said an alert had been sounded in Kaziranga because of the emergency situation created by the flood and stated that there were adequate number of personnel to protect the flood-hit animals which have been crossing the national highway on search of highlands. She lauded the members of local Eco-Development Committees (EDCs) for joining hands with the forest staff in safeguarding the park animals.
“The forest staff have been working very hard braving the danger during the flood time to protect the animals. I have come to meet them and talk to them at this time of crisis to boost their morale,” the minister said.
No central minister has come to the state so far to take stock of the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday to take stock of the flood situation and measures taken by the state government to mitigate the misery of the flood-hit people.