HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, Aug 11: The flood situation in Assam has taken a turn for the worse, amplifying the plight of the affected population.
As per an official bulletin from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the number of individuals impacted has surged to 39,026 across seven districts on Friday, a stark increase from the 26,964 reported on Thursday.
Presently, the ordeal encompasses 259 villages grappling with the deluge resulting from surging waters. Notably, the water levels of major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, have breached their danger thresholds at multiple locations, further complicating the situation.
Tragically, another fatality was reported on Friday from Dibrugarh, pushing the death toll from this year’s floods to eleven.
This surge in impact is mirrored in the expansion of affected districts and subdivisions from six to seven. The newly affected areas now include Charaideo, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Sivasagar.
Prominent rivers, such as the Brahmaputra at Nimatighat, Dikhou at Sivasagar, and the Disang at Nanglamuraghat, have exceeded their danger levels, intensifying the challenges posed by flooding.
To cater to the urgent needs of the affected populace, authorities in these districts have established 36 relief camps and 30 distribution centers, providing vital shelter and support to 787 individuals in distress. Additionally, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) conducted a rescue operation in Sivasagar, evacuating 293 people from the affected regions.
The agricultural landscape has not been spared, with approximately 3,118.62 hectares of crops adversely affected by the floods. Infrastructural damages have also been reported, with roads and bridges suffering in Dhubri. Similar incidents were recorded in Barpeta, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Jorhat, and Sivasagar. Furthermore, reports of significant erosion have emerged from Golaghat and Nalbari.
In a disheartening development, urban flooding was reported in Charaideo during the day, emphasising the extensive reach of the flood’s impact.
