Assam floods: Situation improves marginally but two lakh still remain affected across 13 districts

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam improved marginally on Thursday, although over two lakh people are still affected across 13 districts in the state. According to a report by Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), around 2.2 lakh people are suffering at present in Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Barpeta, Dhubri, Goalpara, Morigaon, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Karimganj and Cachar districts. [caption id=“attachment_3802183” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] File image of locals stranded during the Assam floods. Reuters[/caption] Till Wednesday, five lakh people were affected in the latest wave of floods across 14 districts in the state. The total number of persons losing their lives in this year’s flood-related cases stands at 73, including eight in Guwahati. The ASDMA said 478 villages are under water at present and nearly 29,000 hectares of crop areas are inundated. The worst affected is Morigaon, where over 66,000 people have been affected by the deluge, followed by Barpeta with more than 47,000 sufferers. Authorities are running 80 relief camps and distribution centres in 12 districts, where 11,816 persons are currently taking shelter, the agency said adding, the state government has distributed rice, dal, salt and mustard oil among the flood victims. Across the state, 1,23,357 animals and poultry are affected by the flood waters at present. Due to the impact of flood waters, many roads, embankments and bridges have been damaged in many districts. The Dhansiri river at Golaghat town and Numaligarh in Golaghat, and Kushiyara river at Karimganj town are flowing above the danger mark.