With no let-up in rainfall in upper Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh, the flood situation in the state has turned grim. Nearly 13 lakh people have been affected in Assam and another 50,000 in Arunachal Pradesh due to floods.
In Assam, the districts of Dhemaji and Tinsukia, bordering Arunachal Pradesh are the worst affected. In Dhemaji alone, 2,31,444 people are reeling under floodwaters and another 80,000 in Tinsukia. The Sadiya sub-division of Tinsukia district is witnessing its worst ever flood this time. Many have blamed China of releasing excess water from its dams and creating havoc in Assam and parts of Arunachal Pradesh.
The swelling waters of river Brahmaputra, Burhidehing, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali have submerged 1,972 villages in Assam. Flood affected people are presently taking shelters at 166 relief camps set up across the state. In total, 2,31,610 people are taking shelters at the relief camps.
State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF)and Army have been pressed into service to rescue marooned people and distribute relief material among in the affected areas. Till now, at least seven people have lost their lives due to floods in Assam and another 9 people have been reported to be missing. The swelling water of river Brahmaputra is posing serious threat to the existence of upper Assam town of Dibrugarh and river island Majuli.
Nearly, 80 per cent of land area of Majuli has been inundated by floodwaters. In view of the worsening situation, all educational institutions in Majuli have been closed indefinitely since Monday. In Guwahati, river Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark and floodwaters of river Brahmaputra had entered into many places in Pandu area, submerging many localities in the area.
The districts of Tinisukia, Dibrugarh, Sibsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Darrang, Nalbari, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Morigaon, Nagaon and Barpeta are have been affected by floods in Assam.
Arunachal Pradesh too is witnessing one of its worst floods in its history. At least nine people have lost their lives due the floods and many parts of the mountainous state are completely cut-off from the rest of the country. The district of Lohit is the worst affected with floods, breaches, landslides bringing in untold misery for the people.