Assam, Bihar flood situation grim, toll rises to 72

The flood situation in Assam and Bihar remained grim with 15 more deaths reported yesterday, even as two persons died and three others are feared to have been washed away in rain-related incidents in Uttarakhand and Maharashtra since Sunday.

 

According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), three more deaths were reported in the state taking the toll to 34. Two persons were killed at Bilasipara and Chapar in Dhubri district, while one death was reported in Barpeta town.

 

More than 11 lakh people in 1,659 villages in 21 districts are affected by the floods. Authorities are running 366 relief camps and distribution centres, where over 1.25 lakh people have taken shelter. More than one lakh hectares of crop area are under flood water across the state.

 

A carcass of a female rhino was found with its horn intact near Amkatoni camp in the flooded Kaziranga National Park (KNP). So far, 13 rhinos have died due to drowning in the floods which have so far also claimed lives of 15 hog deer, two wild boars and two snakes, officials said. Over 100 wild animals, including ten one-horned rhinos, swamp deer and hog deer have been rescued.

 

The Brahmaputra river is flowing above danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and Dhubri town, while its tributaries Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat and Beki at Road Bridge in Barpeta are flowing above the normal level. The rising water level of the Brahmaputra has flooded 85 per cent of KNP.

 

In Odisha, the toll due to lightning strikes since Saturday rose to 52, Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) office said.

 

In Bihar, 12 more deaths were reported from Katihar district taking the toll to 38, as 28.20 lakh people in 12 districts were affected.

 

Fed by heavy rains in the Terai region of Nepal, the Ganga River at Kahalgaon in Bhagalpur district remained above the danger mark.

 

The overall weather conditions in Bihar, especially in Patna, remained humid. Light rainfall was witnessed at a few places in North West, north central and south central parts of the state since yesterday.

 

In Uttarakhand, a 20-year-old engineering student drowned in Tons river near Dehradun following heavy rains, while landslides in most parts of the state led to traffic disruptions. Nainital was lashed by 132.08 mm rains since Sunday.

 

Rishikesh-Badrinath and Rishikesh-Gangotri highways are blocked for the last four days affecting Chardham Yatra.