One dead as flood situation worsens in Assam, over 2.71 lakh affected

GUWAHATI: One person was killed in Goalpara district and the number of affected population surged to 2.71 lakh in 11 districts, as Assam 's flood situation worsened on Wednesday. The number of people displaced from their homes to relief camps rose to 16,720.


The Central Water Commission (CWC) has issued an alert for Jorhat, Sonitpur, Karbi Anglang, Nagaon, Morigaon, Baksa, Kamrup (Metro), Goalpara, Dhubri, Cachar, Hailakhandi and Karimgunj districts.

In an advisory, the CWC said due to forecast of "heavy to very heavy rainfall with isolated extremely heavy rainfall" in southern parts of Brahmaputra basin for next 24 hours, the Brahmaputra water level is likely to cross the danger level and flow in "severe flood situation at Tezpur in Sonitpur district".

The advisory adds, "Due to the combined effect of Brahmaputra and Kopili, the Brahmaputra is likely to rise at Guwahati DC Court in Kamrup Urban district and flow in severe flood situation from tomorrow May 28, 2020 afternoon onwards."

Due to incessant rainfall over the past few days, landslides in Dima Hasao district affected 72 people in three villages. According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority, 18 houses have been completely destroyed and another 11 houses were partially damaged.

Goalpara remains as the worst-hit district where 2.15 lakh people have been affected, followed by over 22,000 in Nalbari and over 10,000 in Nagaon districts. A total of 16,037 people from Goalpara district have taken shelter in relief camps.

The disaster management body said floodwaters have breached several embankments, washed away many bridges and submerged a large number of roads in the districts.

Along with flood, rivers are also carrying out massive erosion at Majuli river island at Pagla Chapori and Sorai Chapori under Dakhin Ahotoguri gaon panchayat and erosion at Udaipur under Ahatguri gram panchayat. Erosion has also occurred at Meghayarani under Thelamara revenue circle in Sonitpur district. Floodwaters have also destroyed standing crop on more than 2,000 hectares, ASDMA said.

The CWC added, "There is a likelihood that river Kopili at Kampur may touch the highest flood level on the night of May 27 and fall slowly thereafter."

"Due to forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Barak and Meghna basins, river Barak, Katakhal, Kushiyara are likely to rise rapidly and may flow in above normal to severe food situation in the districts of Cachar, Hailakhand and Karimganj districts between May 28 and 30," the advisory added.

For Tripura, the CWC advisory said, "Due to the forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall in Manu, Haora, Khowai, Gumti river basins are likely to rise rapidly and may flow in above normal to severe flood situation in the districts of North, South Tripura, Dhalai and Unakoti Districts between May 28 and 30."