Assam floods: Death toll climbs to 59, over 10 lakh affected

ANI  |  Guwahati (Assam) [India] 

The death toll in floods mounted to 59 even though the overall situation showed signs of improvement.

Close to 10 lakh people in 24 districts of continued to reel under floods as the death toll reached 59 in the state on Saturday.

The State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Saturday said that 11,93,458 people have been suffering in 1,795 villages in 24 districts.

The affected districts include Dhemaji, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Darrang, Nalbari, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Soputh Salmara, Golapara, Morigaon, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Jorhat Majuli, Sivsagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, and Cachar.

Over 66,516 hectares of agricultural land continue to be affected by floods, the ASDMA report said.

Officials said that close to 25,000 flood-affected people are taking shelter in 129 relief camps set up by the in different districts.

Besides, 52 percent of the Kaziranga Park remained under water on Saturday, which has also affected 93 anti-poaching camps in Agaratoli, Kohora, Bagori, Burhapahar and Biswanathghat.

The forest department as well as the Kaziranga Park authorities have deployed additional forces, including outside the park, to monitor and track the animals which have strayed outside the park due to the floods.

Due to the impact of the floods, many roads, embankments and bridges have been damaged in several districts, including Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Biswanath, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Golaghat, Majuli, Sivasagar and Karimganj.

Currently, the Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at two places - Nimatighat in Jorhat and Dhubri town.

(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)