Flood fury in Assam submerges 80 more villages

Flooded rivers have submerged 80 more villages in Assam, taking the number of such villages to 300, and damaged roads and embankment in the state, officials said Monday.

The 80 villages are located in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Chirang districts. As many as 11 districts are in the flood fury, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) told IANS.

Officials said over 40,000 people have been affected. There has not been no loss of life.

According to ASDMA, parts of Dhemaji, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Chirang, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts have been hit by the surging waters of Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

The floods have damaged crops in 4,222 hectares, the officials said, adding that Morigaon and Dhemaji districts were the worst hit.

Authorities have opened over 900 relief camps, mostly in Dhemaji district.

While flood waters entered the Kaziranga National Park a few days ago, parts of Dibru Choikhowa National Park in Tinsukia district have also got swamped, forest officials said.

The Central Water Commission said the Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger level at Nematighat in Jorhat district while the Jia Bharali river was flowing above the danger mark in Sonitpur district.

Floods have damaged six roads and a bridge in Golaghat district and breached embankments at many places in Karimganj, Dhemaji and elsewhere.