Assam floods: Over 24 lakh people hit in 24 districts; death toll at 110

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Guwahati: The floods in Assam have affected 24 districts affecting over 24 lakh people and causing damages to 1,09,600.53 hectares of crop area in the state. According to the flood situation report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Monday (July 202020), the rising water levels has deluged a total of 2,254 villages.

The area affected by flood as per the ASDMA reports includes - Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Darrang, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, South Salmara, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Cachar districts.

Earlier on Monday, the increased water flow in the Brahmaputra led to floods in several areas of Dibrugarh. The government has set up 276 relief camps and 192 relief distribution centres across the districts to help the people affected by the floods in the state.

Goalpara is the worst hit with over 4.59 lakh people suffering, followed by Barpeta with more than 3.37 lakh people and Morigaon with around 3.35 lakh people.

Nearly, 113 animals have died in the Kaziranga national park due to floods in the state. The authorities, however, have rescued 140 animals.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal late on Monday inspected an embankment damaged by rainfall and increased water flow in Buradiya river at Pokhura village of Nalbari district.

During his visit, he also met locals affected by floods in the state. The Chief Minister thanked people of the state for showing great courage in times of these floods and also expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for extending help to the state.

"People of the state have shown great courage in times of these floods. They have supported every step of the government, I thank them for this. We will successfully overcome this challenge. I also thank PM Modi for his support," he said. He had earlier said that the government is releasing ex-gratia within 48 hours to the kin of those who have lost their lives in the floods.

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) evacuated 56 people from flood-affected areas in Matia, Goalpara on Monday.Incessant rainfall since the past three days in the state has led to water levels rising in the Brahmaputra and its tributary Krishnai river in the region.

The overflowing of the rivers has severely affected the life of locals in Hawra Ghat village, leaving many locals marooned. An NDRF team, however, reached the flood-affected village and transported the locals to safe places.

(With agency input)