Assam: Over 2 lakh people affected in first wave of floods
The first wave of floods has turned critical, with many rivers -- including the Brahmaputra -- flowing above danger level marks. Around 1.68 lakh people have been affected in Goalpara district alone.
In Short
- Floods intensify challenge in pandemic era
- 2 lakh affected in 229 villages
- 1,000 hectares of crop area now submerged
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.
Over 1,000 hectares of crop area are now submerged. Over 13,500 domestic animals and 3,000 poultry have been affected.
Around 1.68 lakh people have been affected in Goalpara district alone, followed by close to 11,000 people in Nalbari district.
In Goalpara, around 140 villages of Lakhimpur and Balijana area have been affected; people have taken shelter in relief camps.
A villager from the Lakhimpur area said water levels of many rivers had increased following incessant rains in the region, as well as in Meghalaya.
"The district administration and the local MLA are yet to come here to take stock of the situation," the villager said.
In the Borghuli area, located in Nagaon district, a building of a mosque collapsed into the Brahmaputra river within seconds due to increased water levels in the area.