Guwahati, June 27: Over three hundred thousand people were affected in the flood in Assam, and the situation continues to remain grim, in which authorities haad to call on the army and air force for their rescue service.
During the flood, four more persons died, taking the death toll to 12.
Assam state government sources said the floods, triggered by torrential rain, affected three lakh people in 16 districts in the state.
“The Brahmaputra and its tributaries such as Subansiri, Kopoli, Burhidihing, Puthimari, Desang, Dilhow, Jiabharali were flowing above the danger level mark at many places in the state,” an official of state government said.
The floods breached several embankments and submerged thousands of hectares of cropland.
“Over 600 villages in Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Sivsagar, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Nalbari districts were submerged by flood waters and the affected people had taken shelter on higher ground,” an official said.
Meanwhile, army personnel and Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopters were engaged in rescue operations in several districts.
Asia’s largest river island, Majuli has remained cut off from the rest of the world since Monday.
The flood waters extended into Kaziranga National Park and Dibru Saikhowa National Park, as the animals including one-horned rhinoceros moved to the adjoining higher places.
“We have taken all safety measures for the animals in the flood and sounded high alert on National highways,” a KNP official said.
The Kaziranga National Park authorities had introduced the ‘time card’ for all vehicles in NH-37.
The state forest Minister, Rockybul Hussain, instructed all forest officials and the authorities of KNP and Dibru Saikhowa National Park to take all measures to ensure protection of the animals.
The Assam Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, who is currently in the United States, instructed all state ministers and officials to take all possible measures and to be involved in the rescue operations.
