Assam floods claim eight lives

Altogether eight people have died in heavy floods and landslides triggered by continuous rain for the last three days in Assam, where airforce helicopters, army, NDRF and SDRF have been pressed into service for rescue work, officials said.
The situation was the worst in Goalpara where five people have died and more than 50,000 people have been affected due to heavy rains in the state and neighbouring Meghalaya, District Deputy Commissioner Pritam Saikia told PTI.
With rains halting today, rescue and relief operation are on and airforce helicopters have been pressed into service to rescue the marooned people in Dudhnoi, Krishnai and Bolbola.

Army, NDRF and SDRF are also engaged round-the-clock for rescue work. However, majority of the people have come down on their own to the plains, he said.
The district administration has made arrangements to provide shelter and necessary relief materials to the affected, Saikia said.
The situation in Guwahati, where two persons have died - one in landslide and another due to electrocution following heavy precipitation in the past three days, was also improving as rains stopped since this morning.
The city recorded 162.56 mm of rainfall since last night and the severely affected areas of Anil Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Zoo Road and other areas remain waterlogged, Kamrup (Metro) district administration spokesman said.

About 300 people have been evacuated from Anil Nagar and housed in relief camps opened by Kamrup metropolitan district administration, which has also made arrangements for distribution of drinking water, candles, biscuits and other items to the affected people.