Assam floods: Nearly two lakh people affected
GUWAHATI: The flood situation in Assam deteriorated on May 30, with over 198,000 people affected across nine districts.
The disaster claimed another life, bringing the death toll to six since Tuesday, as rivers swelled due to relentless rainfall following Cyclone Remal, officials reported.
In Hailakandi district, one person drowned, and 18 others were injured due to the floods.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) noted that the districts of Nagaon, Karimganj, Hailakandi, West Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hojai, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao are the worst hit.
Cachar is the most severely affected, with 102,246 residents impacted, followed by 36,959 in Karimganj, 22,058 in Hojai, and 14,308 in Hailakandi.
The floods have also devastated 3,238.8 hectares of cropland and impacted 234,535 animals.
Major rivers, including the Brahmaputra and Barak, along with their tributaries, are flowing above the danger mark in several locations.
Over 35,000 people have sought shelter in 110 relief camps, with the largest numbers in Hojai (19,646), Cachar (12,110), Hailakandi (2,060), and Karimganj (1,613).
Life has come to a standstill in the Barak Valley districts and Dima Hasao due to the floods.
Intermittent rain and thunderstorms have further exacerbated conditions in these and other affected areas.
The Barak river and its tributaries, such as Longai, Kushiara, Singla, and Katakhal, are all rising, damaging four embankments in Karimganj.
In Silchar, which experienced severe floods in 2022, water-logging has affected several areas, disrupting movement and traffic.
Dima Hasao district is "severely affected" by relentless rain, crippling road connectivity.
The Haflong-Silchar road has been completely cut off near Harangajao, and multiple landslides have blocked the Haflong-Harangajao route.
Authorities have advised against nighttime travel, except on the Umrongso-Lanka route.
Train services remain suspended or shortened on the Haflong-Badarpur rail route due to landslides.
In Nagaon, the rising Barpani river has damaged the Sildubi to Amdubi road and a wooden bridge at Ramanipathar, submerging a school in Pamali Jarani.
The Dhansiri river in Golaghat district is also above the danger level, submerging several low-lying areas.
In Sonitpur, the Brahmaputra and its tributaries continue to rise, with many places reporting above-danger-mark levels.
Guwahati city is experiencing significant water-logging, affecting traffic due to heavy rainfall.
The India Meteorological Department has issued warnings of heavy rain and thunderstorms in Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, Cachar, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao, Dhubri, and South Salmara districts.
Ferry services remain suspended for the third day, and schools and educational institutions in affected districts are closed.
Chief Secretary Ravi Kota has instructed district commissioners to prioritize the safety and well-being of affected residents.
The ASDMA is actively monitoring the situation and coordinating with various departments and response agencies to address the ongoing crisis.