Guwahati: The toll in the Assam floods rose to 46 with eight more casualties reported Wednesday — two from Sonitpur and six others from Morigaon, Dibrugarh, Darrang, Golaghat, Biswanath and Tinsukia districts.
Three persons went missing Wednesday in Sivsagar, Golaghat and Sonitpur.
In the past few days, floodwaters of the rain-swollen Brahmaputra and its tributaries have affected over 11 lakh people in 28 districts, inundating roads and villages, embankments and farmlands.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 11 rivers are still flowing above danger level including the Brahmaputra, the Subansiri and the Barak, while the Burhidihing is flowing above the highest flood level.
Among other districts, Dhubri, Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Nalbari, Barpeta, Darrang and Cachar were worst-affected in the past 24 hours. Over 2.2 lakh people in Dhubri and 1.6 lakh in Lakhimpur have been affected by flood waters. A total of 2,800 villages under 105 revenue circles have been swamped by the overflowing rivers.
Authorities confirmed that personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) along with the Army and the paramilitary forces are assisting the civil administration in rescue and relief operations. So far, 8,377 people and 1,993 animals have been evacuated by boats.
So far, a total of 515 relief camps have been set up, in which 25,744 of those displaced are taking shelter. This includes 106 pregnant women and nearly 4,700 children.
Sharing an update on the Assam Flood situation
👉Water levels are receding
👉 A cloud burst has resulted in the current floods
👉 We are working 24*7 to ensure no further embankment breaches occur
👉 In a week, situation should improve #AssamFloods pic.twitter.com/KkdnjOXJxw
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 3, 2024
On Wednesday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that water levels had receded in some areas and the situation would improve in a week. He added that a cloudburst resulted in the current wave of floods. The government is working round-the-clock to ensure no further breach of embankments, he said.
Over the past few days, Sarma has visited affected areas in Upper and Lower Assam, taking stock of the situation.
Flood waters have inundated almost 80 percent of the Kaziranga National Park. Altogether 173 of the park’s 233 camps are submerged.
On Wednesday, park authorities said 11 animals had died and another 65 rescued in the period from 1-3 July. While four Hog Deer drowned in the floods, six others died after being rescued. Of the 42 Hog Deer rescued from submerged areas, 22 are under treatment and 14 have been released in safe areas. One of the two rescued infant otters could not be saved, forest authorities confirmed.
(Edited by Tikli Basu)