Assam flood death toll rises to 11

The flood situation in Assam worsened on Sunday with the death toll rising to 11 and affecting nearly 26.5 lakh people across 28 districts.

An Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report said four fresh deaths were reported from Jorhat, Barpeta and Dhubri districts.

Of the 28 affected districts, Barpeta is the worst hit with 7.35 lakh people affected, followed by Morigaon where 3.50 lakh people are hit. They are followed by Dhubri where the number of affected is 3.38 lakh, the ASDMA said.

Till Saturday, around 14.06 lakh people were affected in 25 districts out of the total 33 districts.

"As per the Met department forecast, there will be more rainfall across Assam and the water level in the Brahmaputra is likely to rise," Kumar Sanjay Krishna, additional chief secretary (revenue and disaster management), said at a press conference on Sunday. "Dhubri and other lower Assam districts will probably see more severe flood in coming days."
About 70 per cent of the Kaziranga National Park, the habitat of the Great Indian Rhino and a world heritage site, has been affected too, the official said. "Many animals have moved to highlands. We have a sufficient stock of fodder and forest officials are on alert."