GUWAHATI:
The flood situation in Assam deteriorated further on June 22, with the state reporting 12 more deaths, and the death toll mounting to 101, an official bulletin of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.
While four deaths were reported from Hojai, three each were reported from Barpeta and Nalbariand, and two from Kamrup district during the last 24 hours.
The data revealed that approximately 54,57,601 people of 4,941 villages under 112 revenue circles have been affected in the second wave of floods that has raged havoc across the state.
A total of 32 districts namely Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Dima Hasao, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Hojai, Kamrup, Kamrup (M), West Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri have been affected by the floods.
Barpeta is worst-affected district with 11,29,390 people being affected in 606 villages under Baghbar, Barpeta, Sarthebari, Kalgachia and Barnagar revenue circles, followed by Dhubri where 5,97,153 people have been affected in 510 villages under Dhubri, Bilasipara, Golakganj, South Salmara Part, Athani, Gauripur, Chapar and Agamoni revenue circles.
In Darrang district, 4,15,976 people have been affected in 381 villages under Dalgaon, Patharighat, Sipajhar and Mangaldoi revenue circles.
Meanwhile, 2,71,125 people, including 73,978 children are taking shelter in 845 relief camps and 1026 relief distribution centres in the affected districts.
According to the Central Water Commission (CWC) report, the Kopili is flowing above the highest flood level at Kampur in Nagaon district. The Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger level at Dhubri, Goalpara, Tezpur and Neamatighat, while Kopili at Dharamtul and Disang is flowing above the danger level at Nanglamuraghat.
On the other hand, four National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been pressed into service to assist in rescue and relief operations in Silchar town after over 80 per cent of the town went underwater following a breach in an embankment about a kilometre away from the town.
There is no electricity and internet connection in many parts of the town.
Srikona Battalion of Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ 21 Sector Assam Rifles & IGAR (East) launched flood rescue operations in Rangir Khari and GC College in Silchar town.
With the water having risen over the danger level, large swathes of the area were inundated with entire colonies submerged in over five feet of water. Even though a major inter-agency joint effort in previous days had helped evacuate thousands, many more remained stranded in the devastation wrought by the rains and heavy flooding.