Assam: Over 2 lakh people affected in first wave of floods

During the coronavirus pandemic, Assam is now facing another challenge: floods, which have affected more than 2 lakh people from seven districts.

The first wave of floods has turned critical, with many rivers -- including the Brahmaputra -- flowing above danger level marks. In Guwahati, Assam's largest city, the level of the Brahmaputra has gradually increased and is rising by 1-2 cm every hour. An employee of the Central Water Commission, Sarat Chandra Kalita, said the water level in Guwahati has been rising since May 16.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), floods have affected over 2 lakh people in 229 villages in 17 Revenue Circles across seven districts: Darrang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Goalpara, Lakhimpur, Nalbari and Tinsukia.