Guwahati, Oct 3 (IANS) Despite one more death and 1.96 lakh people in four districts still affected, the overall flood situation in Assam improved considerably on Saturday, disaster management officials said.
Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said that one person was reported drowned in the Kopili river at Raha in Nagaon district on Saturday, taking the death toll in this year’s monsoon floods to 122. The officials said that of the 1.96 lakh flood-affected people in four districts — Nagaon, Hojai, Morigaon, and Goalpara, 1.43 lakh people were hit in central Assam’s Nagaon district alone.
The ASDMA said that in the ongoing third wave of floods, in addition to the low-lying areas, around 22,000 hectares of crop lands in 350 villages under the four districts have been inundated. Over 38,000 domesticated animals as well as wild animals, including rhinos in sanctuaries and national parks, were also affected due to the flood, which also damaged many roads, bridges, embankments, government buildings and schools, they added.
The Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger level in Dhubri district and its tributary Kopili, crossed the danger mark in Nagaon district.
ASDMA officials said that Assam, until early August, witnessed devastating floods that killed 122 people in 22 districts, while 26 others were killed in landslides since May 22. With a respite in monsoon rains, the situation significantly improved in the first week of August even as 57 lakh people were affected in 5,378 villages in 30 of the state’s 33 districts.
–IANS
sc/kr