Four drowned in Assam floods, red alert sounded

At least four people were drowned in the first wave of floods in Assam today while a red alert was sounded in Tinsukia, Baksa and Barpeta districts following release of water by China and Bhutan.

The Union Ministry of Water Resources alerted Deputy Commissioners of Tinsukia, Barpeta and Baksa that China and Bhutan have released water from their dams and so adequate measures should be taken to avoid any "probable danger", official sources said here.

A red alert was sounded for those living along the banks of Brahmaputra river and in the Lower Assam districts of Baksa and Barpeta, likely to be affected by Bhutan's release of water from its Kurichu dam, the sources said.

The alert has been sounded "to ensure that there was minimum loss of life and property", officials said.

The rising water of different rivers in the state has so far claimed four lives -- two in Sonitpur and one each in Barpeta and Kamrup (rural) districts.

Meanwhile, rising waters in Brahmaputra river caused by incessant rainfall in the catchment areas has affected more than hundred villages in seven districts of the state -- Sonitpur, Baksa, Barpeta, Tinsukia, Lakhimpur and Dhubri.

In Lakhimpur, five villages have been affected due to rising waters of Ranganadi in Bihpuria area.