Assam Floods: Death toll rises to 29; over 35 lakh affected

The flood situation in Assam remained critical with three more persons perishing on Saturday, taking the toll to 29 in the current deluge even as Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh made an aerial survey of the affected areas. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday made an aerial survey of the flood-hit Nagaon and Morigaon districts and Kaziranga national park area and assured the state government all possible help to deal with the situation even as he asked the state government to prepare an effective action plan.

Rajnath, who addressed a press conference after the survey of flood-hit districts in Assam, announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the victims of the flood.

Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said one person each died at Kalgachia in Barpeta district, Dalgaon in Darrang district and Lakhipur in Goalpara district.

“I did not imagine that the situation is so grave. I have spoken to the Chief Minister and his officials. The problem is a big challenge,” Singh told a press conference after making an aerial view of flood-hit Morigaon, Nagaon and Kaziranga.

Entire Eastern belt facing flood like situation

According to official reports, flood waters have risen following heavy rainfall in the upper catchment areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan as well as in the state.

In Meghalaya, at least three people were killed and two went missing as flood waters submerged the West Garo Hills district today, an official said.

In Bihar, many rivers are flowing above danger level, as flood continued to wreak havoc, affecting 26.19 lakh people.

Two more districts of East Champaran and Muzaffarpur were declared today as flood-hit.
In Odisha, eight deaths were reported from Bhadrak district, while there were seven casualties in Balasore district, five in Khurda, three in Mayurbhanj and one each in Kendrapara, Jajpur, Keonjhar and Nayagarh, police said.