Assam: Flood situation worsens, 1.5 lakh affected

Guwahati: Flood situation in Assam worsened today with water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries showing a rising trend and affecting more than 1.5 lakh people, official sources said. Road communication to Arunachal Pradesh through Lakhimpur and Dhemaji has also been disrupted following deteriorating flood situation caused by incessant rainfall, they said.

The flood-prone Dhemaji district was cut off from the rest of the country with the rising water of Jiadhol river breaching two embankments and submerging National Highway-5. In neighbouring Lakhimpur district, the situation remained critical with more than 50 villages affected and flood water inundating roads and bridges in various places.

The Brahmaputra and its tributary Dihing, which were flowing above the danger level, have flooded 10 villages in Dibrugarh district, they said. The situation in Tinsukia, where two boatmen had drowned yesterday, was also critical. Flood waters have wrecked havoc inside Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in the district forcing animals to flee to the highlands inside the forest.

The state government has directed all district deputy commissioners to be on a high alert and maintain strict vigil on vulnerable parts of embankments and take measures to repair probable breaches, they added.