11.34 lakh affected in Assam floods, death toll mounts to 38; IAF choppers used to rescue people

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJuly 2, 2024

The flood situation in Assam turned from bad to worse with the death of three more persons taking the toll in the second wave of flood to 38, an official bulletin of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said here on Tuesday.

Three more persons died during a flood in Tinsukia district. Dandeswar Sonowal of Bhabalagaon village under Sadiya sub-district and Kaneswar Gogoi (55) from No 2 Bhitarpawe village under Margherita sub-district and Silvanus Tirki (35), No 3 Nabarmura vill under Doomdooma revenue circle.

According to the ASDMA, 11,34,446 people from 2,208 villages under 84 revenue circles in 28 districts were affected by the deluge.

28 districts were affected- Kamrup, Tamulpur, Chirang, Morigaon, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, Udalguri, Nagaon, Bongaigaon, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Hojai, Darrang, Charaideo, Nalbari, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Karbi Anglong, Goalpara, Dhemaji, Majuli, Tinsukia, Kokrajhar, Barpeta, Cachar and Kamrup (M).

Lakhimpur is the worst affected district followed by Darrang and Dhemaji district.

In Lakhimpur, 1,65,319 people from 247 villages under North Lakhimpur, Subansiri, Kadam, Dhakuakhana, Nowboicha, Bihpuria and Narayanpur revenue circles have been affected.

In Darrang district, 1,47,143 people from 125 villages under Patharighat, Mangaldoi, Pub-Mangaldai, Sipajhar and Dalgaon revenue circles have been affected.

In Dhemaji district, 1,01,888 people from 209 villages under Dhemaji, Jonai, Gogamukh and Sissiborgaon revenue circles have been affected.

130 relief camps and 359 relief distribution centres have been opened for the affected people.

18,459 inmates have taken shelter in the relief camps while 2,68,317 non-camp inmates have received food and other relief materials from the relief distribution centres.

The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level mark at Neematighat, Tezpur, Guwahati and Dhubri, Subansiri at Badatighat, Burhidihing at Chenimari (Khowang)), Dikhou at Sivasagar, Disang at Nanglamuraghat, Dhansiri at Numaligarh, Jia-Bharali at Nt Road Crossing, Puthimari at Nh Road Crossing, Kopili at Kampur, Beki at Road Bridge, Kushiyara at Karimganj, Barak at BP Ghat and Dhaleswari is flowing above the danger level mark at Gharmura.

Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers have been deployed for two rescue operations, with boats unable to reach stranded people because of the swelling water levels and strong currents of water.

13 stranded fishermen from Hatia Ali (sand bar) were rescued by the IAF. A medical checkup has been done; all are safe.

Another IAF helicopter was deployed to rescue 8 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and 1 revenue official of Jonai in Dhemaji district when they were stranded in a sandbar while going for relief operations.

Major rescue operations have been carried out at Makum Killa and Jagun areas under Margherita sub-district since Monday night by Indian Army, NDRF and SDRF.

Rescue operations were also conducted at Dergaon, Khumtai and Bokakhat revenue circle in Golaghat district. Another team of NDRF and Indian Army from Jorhat has also been deployed to the affected sites of Dergaon, Khumtai and Bokakhat revenue circles for the rescue operation.

In Majuli, rescue operation is carried out at Majuli and Ujani Majuli revenue circle by SDRF and NDRF teams.

NDRF teams have been deployed at Cachar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Golaghat, Majuli and Lakhimpur districts.

SDRF, Fire & ES personnel, police forces, AAPDA Mitra Volunteers of ASDMA have been helping the district administration in flood-affected areas.

A total of 614 deep divers, 159 SDRF personnel with 295 boats have also been deployed in 54 locations across Assam.

In Golaghat district, Negheriting-Rongagorah dyke was breached by flood water of Bonkual River under Bokakhat revenue circle on Monday night upto Nikori PWD Road including Krishi bund (Length= 13 km).

The Left Ring Bundh of Mujoijan/ Puthinadi was breached at Pirakata Habigaon under Teok revenue circle in Jorhat.

A breach of embankment occurred at Hatimura Jakhlabandha under Kaliabor revenue circle in Nagaon district.

In Majuli district, breach of embankment occurred at Jugunidhari village damaging 70-80m of the dyke. Two (02) persons were rescued from the breached area at Jugunidhari village but one house was fully washed away under Majuli cevenue circle.

The flood also damaged one public road at Barpeta, 4 at Biswanath, 9 at Dhemaji, 4 in Golaghat, 4 in Karimganj, one in Kokrajhar, 8 in Lakhimpur, 7 in Majuli, one in Nalbari, one in Sonitpur, 3 in Tinsukia and one public road in Udalguri district.

Since the first wave of flood which began on May 28, 16,73,364 people of 3,972 villages in 34 districts have been affected.

215 houses were extensively damaged, while 8,796 houses were damaged partially to date.

According to the IMD data, Assam recorded 44.4 mm of rainfall, Arunachal Pradesh 59.5 mm, Meghalaya 168.0 mm, Nagaland 20.7 mm, Manipur 18.7 mm, Mizoram: 29.9 mm and Tripura received 55.8 mm rainfall during the last 24 hours.

‘The RMC of IMD has issued an alert for heavy to very heavy rain at isolated places over Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts.