Guwahati: Troops of the Tezpur-headquartered Gajraj Corps have swung into action in flood-hit Sonitpur district of central Assam and have rescued around 1,500 civilians in the past four-five days.
"Army troops of Gajraj Corps have been mobilised to carry out flood relief and rescue operations in Sonitpur district. Large number of villages in the district have been affected due to incessant rains over last four-five days," an official statement said on Sunday.
"Senior officers conducted an aerial survey of the affected area to review the extent of damage. So far, approximately 1,500 civilians have been rescued from the affected villages," the statement said.
A total of 13 Army teams comprising approximately 250 personnel with flood relief equipment have been pressed into relief and rescue operations along with medical team.
Sonitpur district has been hard-hit by floods since last week. Among the worst affected in the district are areas under the Sootea Assembly constituency.
Meanwhile, in Tinsukia district of upper Assam, Indian Air Force rescued 70 persons, including 10 children, from flood affected villages in Chapakhowa area.
The IAF also dropped 2.4 tonnes of relief material.
The air drop and evacuation was carried out by one Mi-17 helicopter from the `Siachen Tigers` unit of the IAF following a request by the Tinsukia district administration.
Menanwhile, the NDRF today said that it has rescued more than 2900 people from various parts of flood hit Assam.
A total of 16 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed in the state.
A total of 515 persons were rescued from Tinsukia, 878 people at Sonitpur, 736 people at Dhemaji and 835 people in Rangia were rescued.
"The total people rescued in Assam by the force stood at 2,964," the NDRF headquarters said in Delhi.
PTI
