GUWAHATI: There seems to be no respite at sight for the people of Assam as the flood situation worsened in the state on Wednesday. In the past 24 hours, three districts fell under its grip taking the toll of affected districts in the state to 21.
According to the data provided by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), as of Wednesday, flood’s toll on the state’s population has risen to a staggering 3,07,489, with the district of Lakhimpur grappling with the most severe consequences.
In Lakhimpur alone, 71,889 residents find themselves submerged under floodwaters, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Other districts that have been acutely affected include Majuli, where 47,163 people are struggling, and Golaghat, with 40,921 residents impacted.
On Tuesday, the number of affected people by the floods were 1,90,675. However, the death toll remained constant at 15, with no new casualties reported.
The ASDMA data further revealed that presently, 698 individuals have sought refuge in four relief camps, supplemented by an additional 87 relief distribution centres that have been activated. Local administration teams and personnel from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been actively engaged in rescue efforts across the affected regions.
The relentless flow of water has caused multiple rivers to surge, with the Brahmaputra at Dibrugarh, Dhubri, Guwahati, Tezpur, and Nimati Ghat flowing above the danger mark. Furthermore, rivers such as Beki in Barpeta, Disang in Nanglamuraghat, Dikhou in Sivasagar, and Subansiri in Badatighat have breached the red mark, further intensifying the situation.
The devastation has wreaked havoc on 21,591.90 hectares of crop area, impacting the agricultural backbone of the state. Livestock has also borne the brunt, with a total of 2,69,633 animals, including large, small, and poultry, being affected.
Structural damage has been extensive, as embankments have been breached in Darrang and Kamrup districts. Additionally, the crisis has led to the disruption of roads, Anganwadi centres, schools, and electric infrastructure across various districts. Erosion, a common consequence of such disasters, has been reported in districts including Biswanath, Chirang, Dhubri, Hailakandi, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, and Udalguri.
