Assam flood toll rises to 41; over 6.5 lakh people affected

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam remained grim on Thursday, with the death toll rising to 41 and more than 6.53 lakh people affected across 11 districts, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

The Army, Air Force and other emergency agencies continued large-scale rescue and relief operations, while drones were deployed to deliver food, medicines and other essential supplies to people stranded in inaccessible areas.

Sivasagar worst affected

The ASDMA said Sivasagar is the worst-hit district, with nearly four lakh people affected, followed by Charaideo with around 1.11 lakh and Jorhat with over 97,000 affected residents.

The other affected districts include Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Hojai, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong and Nagaon.

According to the latest bulletin, 10 people lost their lives in the last 24 hours, taking this year’s flood-related death toll to 41.

Rescue operations in full swing

Authorities said 487 relief camps and relief distribution centres have been set up across 10 districts, providing shelter to 24,418 displaced people.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to visit some of the worst-affected areas in Golaghat district after reviewing rescue operations in Jorhat and Sivasagar on Wednesday.

The Chief Minister’s Office said all agencies remain on the ground, distributing food, drinking water, medicines and sanitary supplies while continuing rescue efforts.

Rivers flowing above danger mark

Several rivers continue to flow above the danger level, worsening the flood situation.

The Desang and Dikhow rivers have crossed the severe flood level in Sivasagar district, while the Dhansiri (South) is flowing above the severe flood mark at Numaligarh in Golaghat district. The Buridihing and Kushiyara rivers are also flowing above the danger level.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast thunderstorms, lightning and heavy rainfall at isolated places over the next four days, raising concerns about further deterioration of the flood situation