Guwahati, 03 August (HS): Flood conditions in Assam have improved considerably, but more than 1.36 lakh people across five districts continue to remain affected. Three more bodies were recovered from Sivasagar district on Sunday, taking the flood death toll in the state to 85, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The flood-hit districts are Golaghat, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo and Dhemaji. A total of 335 villages under 21 revenue circles remain affected, while 15,422 hectares of agricultural land are still submerged. The Dhansiri River at Numaligarh continues to flow above the danger level.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who began his four-day visit to Upper Assam on Sunday, is reviewing the situation on the ground and directing officials to speed up relief, rehabilitation and restoration work. Ministers of the state government are also camping in the affected districts to oversee relief operations.
The state government is currently operating 39 relief camps and 15 relief distribution centres. Altogether 10,844 people are staying in relief camps, while 2,927 others are receiving assistance through relief distribution centres.
ASDMA said two persons are still missing in Sivasagar district. The floods have also affected 24,460 livestock, including 13,835 large animals, 9,754 small animals and 871 poultry birds.
Sivasagar has reported the highest damage to houses, with 657 kucha and 15 pucca houses completely destroyed. Another 1,028 kucha and 321 pucca houses have suffered partial damage. Besides, 162 huts and 220 cattle sheds have also been damaged.
Relief and rescue operations are being carried out by the SDRF, NDRF, Army, Air Force, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, Civil Defence, district administration and trained volunteers. On Sunday, the government deployed 84 medical teams and three boats in the affected areas.
The state has distributed 288.11 quintals of rice, 8.724 quintals of pulses, 2.6176 quintals of salt and 261.72 litres of mustard oil among flood victims. It has also supplied 959 quintals of wheat bran and 232.056 quintals of rice bran as cattle feed.
The Assam government is continuing damage assessment and restoration of roads, bridges and other public infrastructure in the flood-affected districts.----------
Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash
