| GUWAHATI: The flood situation in Assam continued to be critical with one more casualty reported in the past 24 hours, even as the number of people affected has dipped below the 20-lakh mark.
Twenty one districts continue to remain hit by the deluge with one more death occurring under Bokakhat revenue circle in Golaghat district on Tuesday. The cumulative death toll due to floods since May has gone up to 104, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority informed on Tuesday evening. Rescue and relief operations are underway in the flood-hit districts. More than 2660 marooned villagers and 20 livestock have been evacuated this monsoon season by NDRF. On the other hand, the flood-related death toll of animals in Kaziranga National Park has gone up to 137 even as 163 animals have been rescued so far, the divisional forest officer of Eastern Assam Wildlife division, informed on Tuesday. Reportedly, more than 60 per cent of the park remained submerged in floodwater. The number of camps inundated however has come down to 43 from 62 on Monday. Meanwhile, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited erosion-affected Lalpukhuri area in Biswanath district on Tuesday and inspected the erosion protection measures being undertaken by the water resources department at Chatrang river in Gohpur. The department is building a guard wall on the bank of the Chatrang river with an expenditure of Rs 5 crore. Sonowal also visited Lohitmukh which has been affected by erosion of the Brahmaputra. Later, speaking to media persons, the chief minister informed that the high-level committee constituted by the Prime Minister under the chairmanship of NITI Aayog vice chairman has recommended for constitution of the North East Water Management Authority for tackling the perennial flood and erosion problem of the region. He stated that the central government would take necessary steps for its implementation in the forthcoming session of Parliament. |
