Red alert sounded in Assam for heavy rain

A red alert has been sounded in four districts of Assam following the Indian Meteorological Department's (IMD) warning of likely heavy rainfall of 488 mm in the next three-four days.

The four districts are Sonitpur, North Lakhimpur, Golaghat and Barpeta, a statement released by the Chief Minister's Office here said Wednesday.

The statement said Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi discussed the flood and erosion problem with the minister for water resources and officials and directed them to take precautionary measures and move people living near the river banks to safer places in view of the heavy rainfall forecast by the IMD.

Deputy commissioners of the four districts have been asked to meet any exigency.

Officials of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said that about 200 villages have been affected by floods in nine districts. However, there was no human casualty.

Floods have submerged standing crops across 2,000 hectares and have impacted 30,000 people, ASDMA officials said.