Flood fury grips Assam

At least nine districts of Assam are facing the brunt of floods

The North Eastern state of Assam is in the grip of flood fury; triggered by torrential rains for the past few days. The first wave of floods has till now affected around 30,000 people and rendered around 500 homeless, besides damaging houses and infrastructure across the state.

At least nine districts of Assam, viz.; Dhemaji, Golaghat, Kamrup, Karimganj, Jorhat, North Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Tinsukia and Sibsagar, are facing the brunt of floods.

According to the information provided by Assam State Disaster Management Authority, nearly 250 villages have been submerged by swelling waters of various rivers.

The Assam government has sounded a high-alert in four districts of Assam following a report from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) that there might be heavy to heavy rainfall in the next three-four days.The four districts where the alert has been sounded are Sonitpur, North Lakhimpur, Golaghat and Barpeta.

The floods have also affected crop area of around 2,500 hectares and damaged around 600 houses either fully or partially. Besides, floods have also damaged several roads, bridges, culverts and breached at least 4 embankments.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi while discussing the flood and erosion problem with water resources minister and officials of the department at a meeting, directed them to take all precautionary measures and to move the people living near the river banks to safer places in view of the projected rainfall by IMD. Gogoi called for a widespread media campaign to create awareness among the people living near the river banks.

Meanwhile, the deputy commissioners of the four districts where alert has been sounded have been asked to make "all-out preparations" to meet any exigency.