Assam floods: Six more dead as toll mounts to 52; over 21 lakh people affected
The Hindu
Assam floods: Himanta Biswa Sarma said the breaching of at least eight strategic embankments worsened the flood situation, which was caused largely by heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.
At least six persons, including two children, drowned on Thursday, taking the death toll in two waves of floods in Assam since May to 52.
Officials of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said the water levels of the Brahmaputra and other rivers dipped marginally on Thursday, but the flood situation continued to be grim with 21.13 lakh forced to abandon their homes.
More than 39,300 people among the flood-hit have taken shelter across 247 relief camps.
“Western Assam’s Dhubri and northern Assam’s Darrang are the worst affected districts where 6.49 lakh and 1.9 lakh people have been displaced,” an ASDMA spokesperson said.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the breaching of at least eight strategic embankments worsened the flood situation, which was caused largely by heavy rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan.
The impact has been felt in the 1,307.49 sq. km Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve where the floodwaters killed 31 animals — 30 hog deer and one otter pup. Forest guards, however, rescued 82 animals, a two-month-old rhino among them.
“The situation, however, improved in the last 24 hours with 95 of the 233 anti-poaching camps now under water up to 5 feet. The number of camps inundated on Wednesday was 179,” a park official said.