Two killed in Assam floods

At least two people have been killed in Assam in flash floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain for the past two days, officials said.

Floods have affected many parts of Assam's Brahmaputra valley.

While Dhubri and Goalpara districts have been badly hit, floods have inundated most parts of the main city Guwahati, forcing the administration to close all educational institutions.

Officials said two people died in Guwahati - one in a landslide and the other due to electrocution.

"Guwahati has received 135 mm rainfall in the past one day compared to 60 mm in June," said a statement issued Monday by the office of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

Gogoi held an emergency meeting to take stock of the flood situation with senior officials.

Officials said Hatsingimari in Dhubri district and Krishnai and Dudhnoi in Goalpara district have been badly hit by the floods.

"In Hatsingimari, about 4,000-5,000 people have been marooned. BSF personnel are working in close tandem with the district administration to evacuate the affected people," officials of the state Disaster Management Authority said.

Gogoi has asked the administration in flood-hit areas to press into service country boats to rescue the stranded people.

The chief minister also took stock of the situation in Guwahati.

Around 300 people have been evacuated from Anil Nagar and housed areas and taken to relief camps set up by the Kamrup Metropolitan district administration.

Arrangements have been made for distributing drinking water, candles, biscuits and other items to the affected people.