GUWAHATI: The flood situation in the state worsened further on Saturday affecting a population of over 4.60 lakh people across 21 districts with two deaths reported from Goalpara district, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority bulletin informed.
One death was reported from Balijana revenue circle and the other from Matia revenue circle. The overall death toll in the first wave of floods in the state has risen to 18.
Among the districts, Dhemaji remains the worst hit in terms of population affected where the deluge has taken a toll on close to one lakh people, followed by Tinsukia (59261), Nalbari (58343), Goalpara (55831), Barpeta (41900), Dibrugarh (36921) and Majuli (32682).
Close to 20,000 people are currently taking shelter in 132 relief camps/centres in nine districts. Rescue operations are under way with 261 people evacuated by State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and circle office personnel on Saturday.
The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are flowing above danger level in at least eight districts. Several embankments have been breached by rivers and roads damaged by the rising flood water.
Landslide behind Raj Bhavan
Meanwhile, incessant rainfall over the past few days in Guwahati triggered a landslide behind Raj Bhavan on Saturday rendering a portion of its guard wall vulnerable.
Subsequently, Kamrup Metro deputy commissioner issued an order directing the proprietor of a private hospital situated below Raj Bhavan to take measures to shift patients under treatment at the hospital to a nearby hospital with immediate effect.
“The (portion of ) the guard wall of Raj Bhavan is in such a vulnerable position that it may fall at any time and may cause damage to lives and properties of the patients, doctors, paramedical staff of Borthakur Clinic and Hospital which is situated just below Raj Bhavan,” the order from the deputy commissioner read.
It may be mentioned that an elderly woman succumbed to head injuries while two members of a family were injured following early morning landslide in the Kahilipara area here on Friday.
The DC also appealed to people residing in the vulnerable areas of the district to vacate their houses and shift to safer places till the monsoon season was over as a precautionary measure against rain-triggered landslides.
Meanwhile, three houses were fully damaged by landslides at Boro Haflong village under Haflong revenue circle in Dima Hasao district.
Besides, one mini fire tender of Fire and Emergency Services was damaged in a landslide at Kali Pahar near Gauripur in Kamrup district, the ASDMA landslide damage report informed.