Floodwaters in four districts of Assam began receding today, bringing some relief to hundreds of people who had been marooned for a week in the first wave of flooding in the state. At least 18 people have died in Assam due to the flood in the past week. The worst affected districts include Karimganj, Hailakandi and Cachar districts in the Barak Valley and Hojai in central Assam.