Over 81,000 people affected by floods in Assam

Mangalore Today Network- 1

Guwahati: June 7, 2015: Incessant rains over the past one week have sent several rivers in Assam including the Brahmaputra overflowing in several districts, affecting over 80,000 people till Tuesday.

The situation was particularly grim in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts in eastern Assam, where nearly 45,000 people have been affected.

The daily flood report issued by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Tuesday said altogether 18 revenue circles in 10 districts have been badly affected, with the district authorities setting up three relief camps in Tinsukia district.

Sizeable portion of the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Tinsukia has been submerged by the rising water of the Brahmaputra. Flood waters of the Brahmaputra have also entered the Kaziranga National Park, forcing animals to move to safer places.

While the Brahmaputra was flowing over the danger mark in Nimatighat in Jorhat district, several villages in the river-island of Majuli have been also inundated. In Gohpur sub-division in Sonitpur district, Solengi, Chatrang and Sessa – all tributaries of the Brahmaputra – have caused major breaches to embankments and inundated villages and standing crops.Over 21,000 people have been affected.

The ASDMA report said nearly 38,000 hectares of standing crops – mostly paddy – have been damaged, of which Dhemaji (2300 hectares) had recorded the highest, followed by Sonitpur, Goalpara, Lakhimpur and Kamrup.