Guwahati: The toll in floods and landslides in Assam has risen to 117 but the overall situation across the state has improved, officials said Friday.
Altogether 101 people have died due to the floods and 16 in landslides caused by incessant rainfall while 16 people are still missing, official sources said today. An estimated 22 lakh people have been affected in the worst floods in recent years, causing large-scale devastation in 2809 villages in 27 of the 28 districts of the state.
The current wave of floods has devastated the world famous Kaziranga National Park where more than 540 animals, including 13 rhinos, have perished, the sources said. Hog deer are the worst hit with 465 of them succumbing to the flood waters which has inundated nearly 80 per cent of the Park’s area.
According to the latest official update, the other casualties include 10 swamp deer, 28 wild boars, five porcupine, 16 sambars and two each of python, wild buffalo and hog badgers.
At least 75 families have been rendered homeless in the world’s largest river island, Majuli, after swirling waters of the Brahmaputra washed away a major portion of its northern part. During the last 72 hours, unabated erosion and floods have washed away huge chunks of land in Halmora area of North Majuli rendering 75 families homeless, official sources said.
The families have taken shelter on the highlands further north of the island. Halmora, famed for its pottery works, is a prominent tourist destination attracting people from both abroad and other parts of the country.
Almost the entire island is submerged and more than 75 families have been rendered homeless due to heavy floods and unabated erosion.
The Brahmaputra river was still flowing above the danger level in Nimatighat in Jorhat and at Dhubri in Lower Assam. It was rising at Nimatighat but recorded a falling trend in Dhubri, the government’s flood bulletin said.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), 101 people in 22 districts were killed and fresh reports had come in of 16 more people dying in landslides.
According to government estimates, over 21 lakh people in all 27 districts of the state have been hit by the first wave of floods that started June 22. More than five lakh people have been rendered homeless. Close to 3,000 villages have been submerged due to floods and large tracts of cropland damaged.
More than three lakh people are staying in 405 relief camps set up in 12 districts. The state government had set up 622 relief camps.
The sources said the water level in Brahmaputra and its tributaries is showing receding trend in some districts but in a majority of areas it is flowing above the danger mark.
Road services, affected at 2847 places, are yet to be restored as also rail tracks damaged by landslides in Lumding- Badarpur Railway Division.
An estimated five lakh people have taken shelter in 630 relief camps and 150 medical teams have been deployed to provide medical aid, the sources added. (Agencies)
