Six lakh more hit by Assam floods in a day, toll rises to 7

GUWAHATI: Six lakh more people and four more villages were affected by the floods across Assam in the course of a day, while the death toll touched seven.
The Brahmaputra has been flowing above the danger level in Jorhat, Tezpur, Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri. Its tributaries - Burhidehing, Subansiri, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Beki, Kopili and Puthimari - are in spate. District administrations have suspended ferry services on these rivers as the waters continue to rise. In southern Assam, the Barak and Kushiyara rivers are also flowing above the danger mark.
A waterlogged village during the flood which claimed six lives (ANI Photo)
By Saturday, 14,06,711 people were affected across 25 of the state's 33 districts - with the floods spreading to West Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Cachar and Dhubri districts. More than 5 lakh have been affected in Barpeta alone, the worst hit district.
Woman searches her belongings near the debris of her house following floodwaters in Kasuarbori village (AFP Photo)
More than 20,000 people, displaced by floods, have taken shelter in 62 relief camps. In addition, 172 relief distribution centres have been set up across the state, up from 48 on Friday.
People stand on a damaged embankment washed out by the flood which claimed six lives (ANI Photo)
The body of a person who had drowned was retrieved at Sissirbargaon in Dhemaji district on Saturday. Another person - a differently abled man from Silchar - is feared drowned in the Barak river.
Workers make a bamboo bridge to cross the flooded river Brahmaputra at Kachomari ghat, in Guwahati on Saturday (PTI Photo)
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have been pressed into action. NDRF has deployed 12 teams - comprising about 300 personnel - to help rescue operations. Over the past three days, the NDRF's 1st Battalion rescued 900 people in Baksa, Morigaon, Hajo and Kamrup (Rural) districts. Meanwhile, Army and SDRF rescued 150 marooned villagers, including 30 children, from Odalguri village in Baksa district.
NDRF volunteers rescue people who are stranded in Flood (ANI Photo)
Connectivity has taken a hit - 15 trains connecting Silchar in Assam's Barak Valley and Agartala in Tripura have been cancelled till July 16. "A section of the railway tracks between Jatinga Lumpur-New Harangajao under the Lumding-Badarpur hill section caved in because of heavy rain on Friday. The restoration work is on," Pranav Jyoti Sharma, chief public relations officer of Northeast Frontier Railway, said.
A woman rows a makeshift raft to move to safer place with her husband (PTI Photo)
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority said 51,752 hectare of agricultural land has been inundated in the second wave of floods, which hit the state early this year.
The Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site about 250 km from here, has been inundated. Animals have started leaving the park for highlands in the adjoining Karbi Anglong district. At least 90 anti-poaching camps were flooded on Saturday. The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, also 50 km from here, is also under water.
With the situation worsening by the day, chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal spoke to Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday about steps taken by the state government to help flood-affected people. "I am monitoring the situation personally. I have spoken to all deputy commissioners and top officials of different departments of the affected districts," Sonowal said, adding that Shah has promised assistance from the Centre to deal with the floods and its aftermath.