6 dead, over 2 lakh affected as Assam flood situation remains grim

Assam’s flood situation remained grim on Friday with over two lakh people affected in nine districts and six people died in the flood, rain and storms in the state since May 28.

Nagaon, Karimganj, Hailakandi, West Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hojai, Golaghat, Karbi Angling and Dima Hasao districts were severely affected.

Road connectivity of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts of Barak Valley with other parts of the state and the northeast region has been affected with vehicles stranded, following 20 metre-stretch of the National Highway-6 being washed away by heavy rain in the Lumslum area of Meghalaya.

Cachar is the worst affected with 1,12,246 people reeling under the deluge, followed by 37,000 in Karimganj, 22,058 in Hojai and 14,308 in Hailakandi.

A crop area of 3238.8 hectares has also been submerged, while 2,34,535 animals have been affected.

The Brahmaputra and Barak rivers along with their tributaries are flowing above the danger mark at several places in the flood-hit districts.

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Altogether, 35,640 affected people have taken shelter in 110 relief camps with the highest of 19,646 in Hojai, followed by 12,110 in Cachar, 2,060 in Hailakandi and 1,613 in Karimganj.

Life came to a standstill in the three districts of Barak Valley and Dima Hasao, while intermittent rainfall and thunderstorms were reported from other affected districts on Thursday, officials said.

In Karimganj, Cachar, and Hailakandi districts, the Barak River and its tributaries Longai, Kushiara, Singla, and Katakhal were flowing above the danger level at several locations, maintaining a rising trend while four embankments were damaged in Karimganj.

In Barak Valley’s Silchar town, which had witnessed a devastating flood in 2022, several areas have been affected by waterlogging which led to snarl traffic movement.

Life has been hit due to relentless rain in Dima Hasao district, severely impacting road connectivity throughout the district.

The Haflong-Silchar road has been completely cut off after a stretch was washed away near Harangajao, while the Haflong-Harangajao route has been blocked by multiple landslides.

Train services, cancelled or short-terminated due to landslides along the Haflong-Badarpur rail route, are yet to be restored, the officials said.

The southwest monsoon has entered Assam and other parts of the Northeast region ahead of its scheduled time due to the effect of cyclone Remal, according to the Indian Meteorological Department.

The IMD has warned of heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, Cachar, Hailakandi, Dima Hasao, Dhubri and South Salmara districts in the next two days.