BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI, Aug 16: Even though the overall flood situation in Assam improved slightly on Wednesday, the situation in Dhemaji and Dhubri districts continue to be critical. With the death of 11 persons during the last 24 hours, the death toll in the current second wave of floods has reached 39.
According to the Assam State Disaster Magement Authority (ASDMA) flood report, a total 123 lives have been lost this year due to flood. As many as 84 people died in the first wave of floods last month.
The ASDMA report said a total of 33,45,442 people in 2,970 villages under 82 revenue circles in 24 districts have been affected by flood in the current wave while 1,43,122.56 hectares of crop area have been hit.
ASDMA sources said altogether 1, 38,648 flood-hit people are taking shelter in 304 relief camps.
The Brahampautra and its tributaries — Dhansiri, Jia Bhoroli, Kopili, Beki and Kushiyara are still flowing above danger mark at different places of the State.
The Brahmaputra is flowing above danger mark at Neematighat, Tezpur, Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri.
Surging waters of Jiadhol river breached the Kumartia left bank dyke near Adarshagaon in Dhemaji district at around 6 am on Wednesday. Three irrigation bundhs at Rongagora, Soribali and at Samaguri in gaoan districts were also breached on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal, who flew to New Delhi on Wednesday, is scheduled to meet Prime Minister rendra Modi and apprise him of prelimiry damage in the current wave of floods that have affected 24 districts in the State.
Sonowal will also request PM Modi to constitute an inter-ministerial team headed by a Cabinet Minister to visit flood-ravaged Assam and assess the post-flood impact and losses in terms of lives lost and property damaged.
The inter-ministerial team’s help will also be sought in assessing breaches caused on embankments and thereby the costs of repairing and strengthening to eble these to be used as dyke-cum-roads.
Sonowal will also request the Prime Minister to involve neighbouring states and Bhutan for hammering out a permanent solution to Assam’s flood problem.