Assam floods: 67 dead, Rajnath to visit flood-hit areas Wednesday

The last deluge wrecked havoc in Kamrup and Goalpara districts, claiming several lives and leaving behind a trail of destruction

Sixty-seven people have been killed in the floods in Assam's Brahmaputra Valley even as Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju are expected to visit the flood-affected areas of Assam and Meghalaya Wednesday.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), over four lakh people continue to be affected by floods in at least five districts of Assam.

The flood situation in Kamrup (Rural) and Golapara districts -- affected badly along with Kamrup (Metro) and Dhubri districts -- during the last wave of floods two weeks back have, however, improved considerably.

At least 39 people were killed in these four districts.

However, many people are still living in relief camps as rehabilitation process is to be completed.

"We have received information about the visit of the union ministers tomorrow. Both the ministers will undertake an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of Assam and Meghalaya tomorrow during the day-long visit. They are also expected to meet state's chief minister before leaving for New Delhi by evening," said a senior police official of the city.

Assam has suffered huge losses in terms of lives, property, cropped land, dwelling units and infrastructure. The last deluge wrecked havoc in Kamrup (Rural) and Goalpara districts, claiming several lives and leaving behind a trail of destruction.

The Revenue and Disaster Management Department has collated estimated reports from 23 flood-hit districts of the state -- Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup (M), Kamrup, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri.

"Over 42 lakh people of the state have been affected during the three waves of floods while 4,446 villages have been hit. A total of 54,088 houses have been fully damaged while 82,095 houses are partially damaged," said officials of the revenue and disaster management.

They added that details of destruction of the last deluge in Goalpara, Kamrup (Rural), Kamrup (Metro) and Dhubri districts are being complied.

The officials further said that a total of 800 relief camps are housing 757,467 inmates. Close to four lakh hectares of cropped area have been affected during the floods while over 10 lakh livestock have been affected.

According to the government statistics, 884 roads, 86 RCC bridges, 113 SPT bridges and 125 culverts have been damaged. A number of breaches have taken places at Ranganadi, Morapagladia, Dohkonia, Brahmajan, Solengi, Chatran, Doulapathar, Nonoi, Brahmaputa, Jiadhal, Buridehing, Krishnai, Damas and Saralbangha embankments.

A final assessment of the damages caused by this year's flood is being compiled by the departments concerned.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has already demanded a special package of Rs.1,000 crore to help the flood hit people and build the infrastructure damaged by the floods.

Flash floods hit Assam