Assam flood casualty numbers overtake Covid-19 deaths

GUWAHATI: The death toll due to drowning in Assam on Friday climbed to five within a week since the first wave of flood struck, one more than the casualty due to Covid-19 in 60 days, as the deluge hit more than 80,000 population across seven districts in 24 hours taking the total affected population 3.81 lakh.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), Nalbari, Goalpara, Nagaon, Hojai, West Karbi Anglong, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts continue to reel under the floods. It said that 356 villages have been hit following which the number of people taking shelter in relief camps has increased by 2230 to reach a total of 21,807.

The number of relief camps has increased from 91 to 190 in the last 24 hours. On the other hand, inundation in fresh areas has also resulted in increase in the affected crop area to 24,755 hectare.

According to the daily bulletin from the authority on Friday, one person drowned in Lakhipur in the worst-hit Goalpara district and the other death has been reported in Doboka in Hojai district. On Thursday two deaths were reported in Lakhipur and Balijan areas in Goalpara district while the first death was from on Wednesday, also in Goalpara district.

Meanwhile, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have evacuated 3,880 marooned persons from different locations in the flood affected districts.