Flood Toll Rises To 69, Situation Critical In Lower Assam

GUWAHATI: With two more persons dead in floods, the death toll in the present wave of floods has risen to 69 across the State besides two in landslides earlier. One person died each in Mayong and Dhemaji during the last 24 hours. Meanwhile, due to incessant rains in Bhutan, the situation has become critical in Lower Assam. The Gauranga is flowing above the danger level at Kokrajhar, Beki at Rd Bridge in Barpeta, and the Puthimari at NH Rd Crossing in Kamrup. Besides, the Brahmaputra is also flowing above the danger level at Neamatighat in Jorhat and Dhubri; Kushiyara at Karimganj, and Jia Bharali at NT Road crossing in Sonitpur.

Meanwhile, train services over Alipurduar division of NF Railway (NFR) have been affected due to heavy rain since Monday night. The downpour with lightening has also hit signalling and telecommunication equipments at places like Banarhat, Hasimara, Chautara, Jorai, Srirampur, and Dangtol among others. Rain water has submerged tracks at Jorai station and water overflowed at some other areas in the Gossaigaon-Srirampur-Jorai section resulting in track erosion. Various signal and telecom equipments failed between the Hasimara-Madarihat, Ghoksadanga-Sajerpar and Salakati-Basugaon sections. Visibility was also poor in many areas due to continuous heavy rain. Due to rains and operational reasons, as well as to ensure safety of passengers, several trains had to be detained in some stations in the division, informed a release from NFR.

Train services were resumed with imposition of speed restrictions over certain locations after due rectification and receipt of the track-fit certificate of the UP line at around 4: 45 pm. However the down line is still not fit for train movement. At Jorai station yard, both up and down lines were badly affected due to water logging and train running had to be suspended from 1:45 pm. Later running of trains started through the up line through single line working system, the release added.

As on Tuesday, 28,01,329 people have been affected in 2,523 villages of 68 revenue circles across 19 districts namely Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Darrang, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat and Cachar.

Presently, 659 relief camps are operational in the districts of Darrang, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kamrup, Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat and Jorhat districts with 1,03,934 inmates and 123 ‘Relief Distribution Centres’ in the districts of Darrang, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Morigaon, and Golaghat.

The DFO, Eastern Assam Wildlife Division, Kaziranga has reported that the flood water level is in a falling trend and it receded approximately 155 cm. While 27 camps are inundated, 204 deaths have been reported in the Park since July 13.

The total crop affected is 1,26,837.55 hectare. On the other hand, 14 animals (2 in Darrang, and 12 in Bongaigaon) have been washed away, stated a release of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority. There are also reports of 211 houses fully damaged and 3,998 houses suffering partial damages.

Rescue operations are being carried out by the personnel of civil administration, SDRF, NDRF, along with local people.

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