GUWAHATI: As many as 4.65 lakh people have been affected by the latest wave of floods in Assam, with Dibrugarh and Dhemaji districts bearing the brunt. In Dibrugarh, a woman and her minor son were washed away on Sunday night.
Her husband, however, was rescued by the locals. The floods, triggered by incessant rains in the upper catchment areas of Bhutan, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, have so far claimed the lives of 20 people. According to Assam’s disaster management authorities, rivers including the Brahmaputra, Jia Bharali, Dhansiri, Puthimari, Beki, Katakhal and the Kushiyara were flowing above the danger mark.
In all, 1,031 villages and localities in 14 of the state’s 32 districts have been affected. The authorities have opened 59 relief camps in seven districts where 18,739 people had taken shelter.
Reports reaching here said the flood waters had damaged several of the roads and bridges in Goalpara, Dibrugarh, Nagaon and Sonitpur districts.
And Tarun Gogoi-led Congress Government in the state has sought Rs 500 crore from the Centre for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-hit and repair of the roads and the bridges.
Chief Minister Gogoi on Monday directed officials to provide immediate relief to the affected families.
After reviewing the situation, he directed the officials to maintain a constant vigil and take immediate remedial steps.
Besides, the Chief Minister directed them to send a team of engineers to Dibrugarh to assess the state of affairs in the region.