45,000 people affected in first wave of floods in Assam

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Around 45,000 people have been affected across four districts of Assam in the first wave of floods, the state disaster management authority said.

So far, over 1,018 hectares of crop area has been inundated by flood water, while Burhidihing and Desang Naglamuraga rivers were flowing above the danger mark in Sivasagar, Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.

Nearly 45,000 people were suffering in Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Sivasagar and Charaideo districts, ASDMA said in an official release.

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The army, the National Disaster Relief Force and the State Disaster Relief Force teams have been deployed in Charaideo for search and rescue operations, it said.

Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia held an emergency flood review meeting this morning with various heads of the departments concerned where deputy commissioners (DCs) of flood affected districts also joined through video conferencing and apprised them about the situation.

The chief secretary instructed the DCs to keep close watch on the overall situation and to contact ASDMA authorities in case of any emergencies.

Late Saturday night, the engine of the New Delhi-Silchar Poorvottar Sampark Kranti Express was derailed near Lumding due to heavy rainfall and landslide.

The Northeast Frontier Railway spokesperson said continuous heavy rainfall in the region has triggered landslides dumping boulders on the tracks.

No injury was reported in the incident and the train left for its destination this morning after clearing of the tracks, he added.