Assam flood toll rises to 122

A woman drowned in a tributary of the Brahmaputra in Barpeta district today taking the casualty figure to 122, official sources said.

So far 106 deaths had been reported due to floods and 16 due to landslides triggered by heavy rains, while 16 others were said to be missing.

Though the Brahmaputra and its tributaries were maintaining a receding trend, vast tracts of land were still inundated in 27 of the affected districts, the sources said.

An estimated population of 22 lakh has been affected in the worst ever flood in recent years causing large-scale devastation in 2809 villages with more than 2.55 lakh hectares of cropland completely inundated.

The agriculture sector has been severely affected by the current wave of flood with 50 per cent of crops lost in the flood-affected districts.

The current wave of flood has caused large-scale destruction in the world-famed Kaziranga National Park where more than 560 animals, including 14 rhinos, have perished.

The situation in the world's largest river island Majuli in Jorhat district was also grim with almost the entire island under water.

Assam Governor J B Patnaik reviewed the flood situation in Kamrup, Darrang, Sonitpur and Nagaon, while the Chief Minister visited severely affected Barpeta district.

Road services have been affected at 2847 places, while rail tracks damaged by landslides in the Lumding-Badarpur Railway division were yet to be restored.

An estimated five lakh people have taken shelter in 630 relief camps and 150 medical teams have been deployed to provide medical aid, while 30 camps have been set up for succour of cattle, the sources added.