The flood situation in Assam turned grave on July 12 as more than 21,000 people had to flee their homes to take shelter in higher altitudes. Heavy flooding triggered by monsoon rains, water release from dams and breaching of embankments, have affected around 13 lakh population.
Floods in Assam claimed three more lives on July 12, taking the overall death toll to 45 in the state. Two deaths were reported from Nagaon district while one from Barpeta district.
Floods have now affected 12.97 lakh people across 2,015 villages in 24 districts of the state, out of whom over 21,000 were rendered homeless and are taking shelter in 118 government-run relief camps. A total of 82,546 hectares of croplands have been submerged.
Barpeta continued to be the worst-hit district with over 3.84 lakh people suffering, followed by Dhemaji with more than 1.3 lakh people and Bongaigaon and Golaghat with over 27,000 affected by the floods, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority said on July 12.
Due to the release of water from Kurichu dam in Bhutan, a diversion of river course of Aie river occurred at Jaraguri village in Bongaigaon district affecting over 10,000 people in 17 villages.
According to the Central Water Commission, all major rivers are flowing over the danger level.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on July 12 asked in-charge ministers to rush to their respective districts, be with the affected people and expedite the relief and rescue operations with district administrations.
Taking stock of the flood situation in the state, Sonowal asked the Water Resources department to repair the breached portion of the embankments on a war footing and save the people.
