Assam floods: 2.52 lakh affected in 16 districts, death toll 16

By: Rokibuz Zaman
GUWAHATI: The Assam flood scene turned grim on Friday with one more dead and almost half of the districts of Assam having been hit by the deluge following incessant rainfall. Over 2.52 lakh people have been affected. The situation might further worsen as the Met department warning of no let-up in heavy rainfall for the next four days.
The death toll reached 16 with reports of one more person dying on Friday due to drowning in Dibrugarh district. Altogether 16 districts remained affected and 2,52,661 people are living in 142 relief camps and centres. Seven new districts have been inundated in the last 24 hours.
Altogether 70 camps are affected and two camps are vacated (out of total 183 camps) in Kaziranga National Park due to flood.
The Central Water Commission (CWC) report on Friday said, "Due to extremely heavy rainfall in Assam, the main Brahmaputra is already in 'Severe Flood Situation' in Neematighat, Tezpur, Guwahati and Dhubri and in 'Above Normal Flood Situation' at Dibrugarh and Goalpara. The main river is in flood throughout its reach."
Dhemaji is the worst-hit with 88,269 people in 215 villages suffering, followed by Tinsukia with over 59,261people in 136 villages and Majuli with 32,041people in 54 villages.
Due to the release of water from Kurichu dam, about 30km from Barpeta Road in lower Assam, the Brahmaputra, Beki, Manas, Pagladia, Kaldia and Pohumara rivers are flowing above the danger level. Kurichu dam has been maintaining an average discharge of over 900 cumecs since 8 pm on Monday. Kurichu had released over 2,700 cumecs of excess water on Thursday.
The Brahmaputra's water level is also rising in Guwahati and it reached 49.54 m against its danger level of 49.68.
The Brahmaputa is flowing above the danger level at Neematighat, in Jorhat, in Tezpur, at Bahari in Barpeta, at Tezpur and in Dhubri, Burhiding at Dibrugarh, Dhansiri at Numaligarh, Golaghat and Jia Bharali at NT road crossing, Sonitpur.
SDRF has rescued over 151 people in Dhemaji and Nalbari.