GUWAHATI: Over 2.90 lakh people in nine districts remain affected by the first wave of floods in Assam, with two more deaths reported from Goalpara on Thursday.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin, two persons were swept away by floodwater in Lakhipur and Balijana revenue circles of Goalpara, taking the total flood toll in the district/state to three. One death was reported from Rongjuli area on Wednesday.
Over 2 lakh people remain affected in Goalpara with close to 18000 people housed in 56 relief camps at Balijana, Lakhipur and Matia revenue circles.
The other districts which continue to be affected by the deluge are Hojai, Nagaon, Nalbari, West Karbi Anglong, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji and Darrang.
Rescue operations are under way to evacuate displaced people to safer places. On Thursday, 492 people were evacuated by SDRF and ARO in Goalpara, Hojai and West Karbi Anglong districts.
Meanwhile, roads have been damaged in Nagaon, Hojai, Nalbari, Karimganj, Udalguri and West Karbi Anglong districts while embankments have been damaged in Nagaon, Hojai, Nalbari and Karimganj districts.
A lansdslide damaged a house in a village under Maibong revenue circle in Dima Hasao district.
Besides, erosion caused by the rising rivers continues in Barpeta, Majuli, Sonitpur, Dibrugarh, Udalguri, Biswanath and South Salmara districts.
The ASDMA chief executive officer, M.S. Manivannan, meanwhile, has requested the deputy commissioners of all districts to engage school/college teachers and other staff (who are not actively involved in COVID-19 duty) of different departments in duties related to flood relief/rescue operations.