Guwahati, 06 August (HS): Flood conditions in Assam have worsened once again, with the number of affected districts rising from five to 14 over the past two days. According to the latest report issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 160,653 people across 563 villages in 38 revenue circles remain affected, while 16,951.761 hectares of agricultural land are still submerged.

Upper Assam districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat continue to bear the brunt of the floods. Although water levels in several rivers have receded, floodwater and sludge continue to inundate homes and roads in many areas.

The Dhansiri River at Numaligarh is still flowing above the danger mark, keeping residents on alert.

Five more bodies were recovered on Wednesday—two each from Sivasagar and Biswanath districts and one from Golaghat—taking the flood-related death toll in the state to 94.

The 14 flood-hit districts are Golaghat, Lakhimpur, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Kamrup (Metro), Jorhat, Sonitpur, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Darrang, Karbi Anglong and Udalguri.

The state government is currently operating 45 relief camps and 59 relief distribution centres, providing shelter to 12,356 people. Another 32,048 affected residents are receiving assistance through relief distribution centres.

The floods have affected 35,025 animals, including 17,195 large animals, 13,464 small animals and 4,366 poultry birds. A total of 8,529 livestock and poultry have reportedly been washed away, with Sivasagar accounting for the majority of the losses.

ASDMA data shows that 73 kutcha houses have been completely damaged, including 69 in Sivasagar and four in Darrang, while three pucca houses have been destroyed in Sivasagar.

The district has also reported extensive partial damage to residential houses, cattle sheds and other structures.

Rescue and relief operations are being carried out by the SDRF, NDRF, Army, Air Force, police, Fire and Emergency Services, district administrations and trained volunteers. On Wednesday, 76 medical teams were deployed in affected areas, while 14 boats rescued 491 people and 20 animals to safer locations.

The government has distributed large quantities of essential relief materials, including rice, pulses, salt, mustard oil and cattle feed, among flood-affected families.

Meanwhile, extensive damage to roads, bridges and other infrastructure is being assessed, with the state government continuing restoration efforts.

On Wednesday, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, accompanied by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, visited the worst-affected districts of Sivasagar and Charaideo to review the flood situation and assure affected families of full support from the Central Government. Nadda also visited flood-hit Mon district in Nagaland as part of his three-day tour of Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash