Assam Floods: Flood scene eases amid damage to infrastructure

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The flood situation has gradually improved in Assam over the last 24 hours even as one more human life was lost, but it is now evident that flood water has already caused extensive damage to infrastructure, mainly roads, bridges, embankments and Anganwadi centres.

The overall death toll in the state is now 174.

Official sources that so far 193 bridges have been either fully or partially damaged – these include 33 in Bajali, 22 in Barpeta, 31 in Kokrajhar, 11 in Dhubri.

The sources added that roads have been partially or fully damaged in 3,611 places in the flood-affected districts. These include National Highways, State Highways, district roads and PMGSY roads. In Nalbari, various roads have been damaged in 409 spots; in Barpeta, roads have been damaged in 385 spots; in Cachar, roads have been damaged in 268 spots; and in Dhubri, roads have been damaged in 295 spots. On the other hand, as many as 2,618 Anganwadi centres have been damaged by flood water across the state.

The sources said that around 22 lakh people of 1,937 villages in 27 districts continue to remain affected by floods.

The rivers Brahmaputra, Kopili, Burhidihing, Disang and Kushiyara were flowing over the danger level in several areas, the sources said.

Meanwhile, before returning to New Delhi this evening, the Central team from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) held discussions with Assam Chief Secretary Jishu Baruah and other officials of the state government, the Army, Air force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), NHAI, NHIDCL, FCI etc.

The Chief Secretary requested the Central team to submit a suitable report to the Centre so that the state can get more Central funds immediately.

Earlier, some members of the MHA team visited various flood-affected areas in the Cachar district today and talked with the district administration regarding damage assessment. The team assured the administration of quick response to cope with the damage.

Other members of the team visited water supply schemes, embankment breach points and P&RD bundh-breach points of the West Nalbari and Banekuchi Revenue Circles in the Nalbari district today. The team also visited the embankment-breach points and houses damaged in the Sarupeta Revenue Circle in the Bajali district for damage assessment. Further, the team has visited the road-damage areas and other flood-affected areas of the Sarthebari Revenue Circle in the Barpeta district for damage assessment.

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