Let-up in flood scene

OUR BUREAU

GUWAHATI/HAILAKANDI, June 19: The overall flood situation in Assam slightly improved on Tuesday with several rivers receding even though the death toll rose to 20 (at the time of writing this) on the sixth day of the first spate of floods in the State.

According to reports of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, 17 persons lost their lives in floods while three died owing to landslides. Of the six reported dead in flood-related incidents on Tuesday, two lost their lives in Cachar district and four died in Karimganj district.

The rivers flowing above the danger level are Dhansiri, Barak and Kushiyara.

The total number of people affected in floods and landslides has risen to 5,64,074 across 727 villages. A total of 1,57,524 inmates are residing in 236 relief camps.

The five districts that still remain affected are Nagaon, Hojai, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj.

Embankments have been breached at Hojai and Karimganj while roads were damaged in Barpeta, Morigaon, Dima-Hasao, Hailakandi, and Karimganj districts. A bridge is breached at Nagaon.

Our Hailakandi correspondent adds that the Principal Secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management and Chief Executive Officer, Assam State Disaster Management Authority, Rajesh Prasad today visited Hailakandi and assessed the flood damages as well as relief and rescue operations in the worst-hit district where almost 50 per cent of the population are being hit by the deluge.

Prasad said the government has sanctioned Rs 1.70 crore for flood relief in Hailakandi district, out of which Rs 50 lakh has already been released. Ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh would be released to the next of kin of the deceased within the next 48 hours. Two persons died in the deluge.

Altogether 10 medical teams have been covering the affected areas and relief camps. On the other hand, 13 veterinary camps have been organized for the affected livestock.