The flood situation triggered by incessant rains in Assam is affecting nearly 31 lakh people in 32 districts, while eight more people lost their lives on Saturday, taking the death toll to 63.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take stock of the current flood situation in the state and assured him of all possible help from the Centre. The Chief Minister also visited some relief camps providing shelter to the affected people in Kamrup and Darrang districts.
Here are 10 points you need to know:
1. Assam Chief Minister Sarma inspects broken LB embankment near Bor Athiyabari due to Saktola river inundation in Darang district. He tweeted, “Instructed WRD to seal off the broken portion. Also assured the local people that the embankment would be built along the new alignment to improve the fortifications.”
2. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, 28 districts have reported floods in the last 24 hours. 96 revenue circles and 2,930 villages were affected by the floods. Around 18,94,373 people were affected. So far 11,881 people have been evacuated. This season, 54 people have lost their lives due to floods and landslides.
3. The death toll in the current second wave of floods and landslides in the state has risen to 63 as Barpeta and Karimganj reported two deaths each, while one each in Darang, Hailakandi, Nalbari and Sonitpur districts happened.
4. The Railway Department has partially canceled trains originating from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia, Swaraj Pradhan, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Tinsukia Railway Division told ANI. “In view of the continuous rise in the water level of the rivers and the flood situation, the railway department has partially canceled the trains running from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia,” he said.
5. The Central Water Commission (CWC) bulletin on Saturday said the Kopili river is flowing above the ‘high flood level’ in Nagaon district, while other rivers like the Brahmaputra, Jia-Bharali, Puthimari, Pagaladiya, Manas, Beki, Barak . And Kushiara is flowing above the danger mark at different places.
6. According to a report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Saturday, a population of 30.99 lakh has been affected in 32 districts.
7. The flood situation in Assam’s Bajli continues to worsen as more than 3.52 lakh people of the district are affected by the current spell of floods. According to information, the flood waters of Pahumara river inundated several villages under Bhawanipur assembly constituency, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. The flood waters completely submerged the PWD road connecting Bhawanipur to Barpeta and one thousand bighas of crop land in the district is presently under water.
8. Over 1.23 lakh people have been affected by the current wave of floods in lower Assam’s Nalbari district. The flood waters have destroyed many embankments and roads and washed away many houses in the district.
9. The floods have devastated West Nalbari, Ghograpar, Barbhag, Nalbari, Tihu, Banekuchi and Barkhetri revenue divisions of the district and inundated 203 villages. The district administration has set up 54 relief camps in the district and about 16,000 flood-affected people of the district are currently living in these camps.
10. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places over Assam and Meghalaya during June 16-18. For the June 23-29 forecast, the IMD said, “Due to south/southwesterly winds at lower tropospheric levels over north-east and adjoining east India over Bay of Bengal, isolated to north-east and adjoining areas.” Widespread rain likely to continue with isolated heavy rains. Eastern India most days of the week.”