One more person dies in Assam floods, over 24 lakh people hit

flood situation in Assam remained critical with one more person losing his life in deluge, in which over 24 lakh people were affected in 24 districts of state, an official bulletin said on Monday.

According to daily flood report of Assam State Disaster Manment Authority (ASDMA), one person died at Sonapur near Guwahati in Kamrup Metropolitan district.

total number of people losing ir lives in this year's flood and landslide has gone up to 111 across state, of whom 85 people were killed in flood-related incidents and 26 died due to landslides.

ASDMA said over 24.3 lakh people are hit due to floods in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Darrang, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Cachar districts.

Goalpara is worst hit with over 4.59 lakh people suffering, followed by Barpeta with more than 3.37 lakh people and Morigaon with around 3.35 lakh people.

State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), district administrations and local people have rescued 291 people during last 24 hours by deploying 125 boats across state, it said.

Till Sunday, more than 25.29 lakh people were affected due to deluge in 24 districts.

Regional Meteorological Centre has forecast rainfall at most places of Assam and Meghalaya on Tuesday with heavy to very heavy downpour along with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sowal visited Gohinpara area affected by flood of Pahumara river in Barpeta district and took stock of dams re along with flood ravd Doul Gosain Than (place of worship) and Bamkhata-Kenduguri road.

He directed Water Resources minister to find a permanent solution of perennial flood and erosion in area after carrying out a scientific study of Pahumara river, an official release said.

"He also asked departments of agriculture, DRDA (District Rural Development ncy) and soil conservation to erect agricultural embankments after consultation with Water Resource Department," it added.

Later talking to reporters, Sowal said that flood and erosion have been causing devastations every year in state as nearly 9,000 hectares of lands are claimed by erosion every year.

He told reporters that central government will take up flood issue with neighbouring Bhutan, from where floodwaters come down every year to cause havoc in state.

chief minister said that deputy commissioners of all districts have been directed to ensure availability of relief material, medical facilities and cattle fodders for flood affected people.

He denied accusations made by opposition parties that flood affected people have t received any relief material as "completely baseless".

Later, Sowal visited flood relief camp set up at Dakshin Barpeta Bidya Mandir High School at Barpeta town and interacted with inmates re about facilities provided to m.

At present, 2,254 vills are under water and 1,09,600.53 hectares of crop areas have been damd across Assam, ASDMA said.

It furr said authorities are running 468 relief camps and distribution centres across 18 districts, where 48,197 people are taking shelter currently.

authorities have distributed a total of 6,111.99 quintals of rice, dal and salt, and 21,362.44 litres of mustard oil along with or relief material such as tarpaulin, candle, matchbox, mosquito net, biscuit, soap, drinking water, cattle feed, mask and wheat bran.

Brahmaputra river is flowing above danger mark at Dibrugarh, Dhubri and Goalpara cities, besides at Nimatighat in Jorhat and Tezpur in Sonitpur districts.

Its tributaries Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat, Jia Bharali at NT Road Crossing in Sonitpur, Kopili at Dharamtul in Nagaon, Beki at Road Bridge in Barpeta and Kushiyara at Karimganj town are also flowing above danger-level.

Embankments, roads, bridges, culverts and many or infrastructures have been damd at various places in Udalguri, Bongaigaon, Goalpara, Kokrajhar and Dibrugarh districts.

Massive erosion have been witnessed at different places of Majuli, Baksa, Sonitpur and Udalguri districts, ASDMA said.

Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and Agriculture Minister Atul Bora visited flood-ravd Kaziranga National Park and took stock of situation of animals and forest guards.

" picturesque Kaziranga National Park and its wonderful inhabitants are struggling with fury of flood. I made an extensive visit of Park to gauge extent of dams, & have instructed officials to do best we can. My compliments to staff for ir spirited work," Sarma tweeted.

ASDMA bulletin said that a total of 56 camps out of 223 at Kaziranga National Park and two out of 40 camps at Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park have been affected by deluge.

deluge has so far taken away lives of 113 different animals, while 140 ors were rescued in Kaziranga National Park, bulletin said quoting DFO of Eastern Assam Wildlife Division.

flood has also affected 23,90,352 domestic animals and poultry across state during last 24 hours, it added.

(Photo credit for representation: PTI)