Half of Assam affected by flood, toll mounts to 22

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam today worsened and affected around 4.5 lakh people in 17 districts, even as the deluge claimed three more lives, taking the toll to 22.

One person each got drowned in Nalbari, Karimganj and South Salmara districts and the toll reached 22, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report said here.

Of the 35 districts in the state, 17 were affected by the flood, while 4.5 lakh people were hit, it said.

The affceted districts included Lakhimpur, Bongaigaon, Jorhat, Golaghat, Cachar, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Karimganj, Sonitpur, Majuli, Barpeta, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Morigaon, Hailakandi and Chirang.

The report said Karimganj in Barak Valley is the worst hit district with 1.61 lakh people affected, followed by Lakhimpur in Brahmaputa Valley with 77,974 flood-hit people.

A total of 1,037 villages in 52 Revenue Circles are affected, it said, adding that 181 relief camps and centres have been set up in 11 districts for the succour of over 20,000 inmates.

The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark in Jorhat, Sonitpur, Goalpara and Dhubri districts.

The other rivers flowing above the red mark are Desang in Sivasagar, Dhansiri in Golaghat, Jia Bharali in Sonitpur and Kushiyara in Karimganj district, the ASDMA report said.

Rhino habitats Kaziranga National Park in upper Assam and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in central Assam are under water due to overflowing of the Brahmaputra, Forest Department sources said.

Nearly one lakh big and small animals besides poultry are affected by the floods across the state.