Flood situation remains grim; 9 dead, over 18 lakh people affected

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The flood situation worsened in the State over the last 24 hours,with nine deaths being reported along with heavy infrastructural damage from various districts as incessant rains showed no signs of ceasing.

Apart from traditionally vulnerable rural areas and Guwahati city, some other urban areas of the State have witnessed floods for the first time in several decades. In view of the critical situation, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to visit some flood-affected districts tomorrow.

According to reports, water overflowed the catchment area and cascaded over the Subansiri Lower Hydel Project dam site on the inter-State border due to heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh, posing a threat to several areas of north Assam. The sluice gates of the Kopili Hydro Electric Project had to be opened to release excess rainwater, resulting in several villages in the Hojai district being inundated.

Fresh landslides were reported from the Dima Hasao district, which was ravaged by the previous bout of floods recently.

Nalbari and Mangaldai towns have been badly swamped by flood water for the first time in several decades.

The PWD road has been breached by flood water in Kalaigaon, snapping surface communication to several villages of the area.

Meanwhile, the flood situation remained severe in Guwahati as well.

Talking to mediapersons, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that the flood situation in the Darrang, Baksa, Guwahati, Kamrup, Bajali, Barpeta, Goalpara, Dhubri and Bongaigaon is a matter of concern. He informed that several Ministers have deputed for field visits to various districts and that he, too, will visit two or three districts tomorrow to take stock of the situation there.

He further said, "According to reports received from Deputy Commissioners, relief and rescue operation are progressing well across the State. Since weather reports predict more rainfall tomorrow and the day after as well, the crisis will be alleviated if the situation can be tackled properly in the next two days."

Regarding the landslide-prone areas of Guwahati, Sarma said that people living in these areas will have to shift to safer locations. Many people have constructed houses on edges of hills, which is very dangerous, the Chief Minister said, adding that these people resist if the Government tries to persuade them to shift from such dangerous areas. He said there is a need to talk to such people to make them understand the issue. He said that he has instructed the newly-elected GMC councillors to interact with people living in vulnerable areas and assess whether they can be persuaded to move to safer localities.

According to the latest flood report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 28 districts and 18.94 lakh people have been affected by floods as on date.

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