The flood situation in Assam continued to remain critical on Sunday, with five new deaths taking the death toll to 126. More than 22 lakh people remain affected, although water level has started receding from some areas.
Five persons, including four children, drowned on Sunday at different places of Barpeta, Cachar, Darrang, Karimganj and Morigaon districts, according to the daily bulletin of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The ASDMA bulletin said over 22,21,500 in 2,542 villages across 25 districts continue to be affected. As many as 2.33 lakh have taken shelter in 637 relief camps of the northeastern state, which had been battling floods and landslides for the past two weeks.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday visited Silchar in Cachar district, which is among the worst-affected areas, and assessed the damage caused by flood waters in the Barak valley city.
Relief materials were being distributed to affected populations that haven't put up at the shelter camps through 259 distribution centres or points that have been opened temporarily, the ASDMA bulletin said.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) had been helping the district administration in safe evacuation of people from affected areas apart from the state forces like SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, the police and ASDMA volunteers.
So far, 67,237 people have been moved to safety by the various agencies, the bulletin said. Fresh landslides were reported from Kamrup Metropolitan district, the ASDMA said. During the last 24 hours, the state experienced an average rainfall of 7 mm.
Since March 1, the state recorded 1,891.90 mm since March 1.
As per Central Water Commission bulletin, Kopili river at Dharamtul in Nagaon, the Barak at BP Ghat in Karimganj and AP Ghat in Cachar, and its tributary Kushiyara at Karimganj town are flowing above danger levels.
(With PTI inputs)
