Floods Affect Assam as Rains Lash Across the Northeast

The state of Assam is facing devastation again due to the monsoon floods. The overflowing Brahmaputra has affected at at least 21 districts, and at least 8 lakh people.

More than 27,000 hectares of farmland has been flooded and 7,000 people have been evacuated to sixty-eight relief camps set up to accommodate the affected. As per the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), Barpeta remains the most affected district as of now with more than 85,000 people seeking shelter. With nearly 800 villages and about 2,000 marooned people put up in 53 relief camps and distribution centres, the situation is quite grave across the state.

In the light of the current situation, the Army has also been asked to step in for assistance at Baksa district to aid the National and State Disaster Response Force personnel in rescue operations.

Road connectivity between North Bengal and Sikkim has been affected by the continuous rainfall. Several tourists have been stuck on the road and two tourist vehicles have been drawn into the Teesta river, increasing the already grave death count in the state due to floods. With heavy rainfall expected 14th July, road connectivity between Siliguri and Sikkim has been shut.

As animals are reported to be fleeing from the famed Kaziranga National Park, authorities have set up barricades on the national highway passing through the park to limit speeding vehicles.