GUWAHATI: The devastating floods in Assam have claimed at least eight more lives, raising the death toll to 56 as of Friday, emerging reports have confirmed.
The victims were identified from various districts – two from Tezpur in Sonitpur, and one each from Mayong in Morigaon, Naharkatia in Dibrugarh, Pub Mangaladi in Darrang, Dergaon in Golaghat, Halem in Biswanath, and Margherita in Tinsukia.
Additionally, three people are reported missing and are feared to have been washed away in Sonitpur, Sivasagar, and Golaghat.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) has reported that a total of 21.15 lakh people has been affected across 29 districts, with 57,018 hectares of cropland inundated.
While the Brahmaputra and other rivers saw a slight dip in water levels on Thursday, the situation remains critical.
More than 39,300 flood victims have sought refuge in 247 relief camps across the state.
Dhubri is the worst affected district, with over 2.23 lakh people impacted, followed by Darrang with nearly 1.84 lakh and Lakhimpur with more than 1.66 lakh people affected.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed the worsening flood conditions to the breaching of at least eight strategic embankments, worsened by heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.
The floods have also taken a toll on wildlife, particularly in the 1,307.49 sq. km Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, where floodwaters so far have killed 31 animals, including 30 hog deer and one otter pup.
However, forest guards have managed to rescue 82 animals, including a two-month-old rhino.
A park official noted an improvement in the situation over the past 24 hours, with 95 of the 233 anti-poaching camps now submerged up to five feet, down from 179 camps inundated on Wednesday.
The relentless flooding continues to pose significant challenges, highlighting the urgent need for effective disaster management and relief efforts in Assam.
