floods-worsen-in-assam-2-lakh-people-affected

The flood situation in Assam remained critical on Friday, with more than two lakh people affected across nine districts due to relentless rainfall following cyclone Remal, officials reported.

 

Since May 28, six people have lost their lives due to floods, rain, and storms in the state.

 

The districts severely impacted include Nagaon, Karimganj, Karimganj, West Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Hojai, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao. 

 

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

 

Road connectivity in Cachar, Karimganj, and Hailakandi districts of Barak Valley has been severely disrupted.

 

A 20-metre stretch of National Highway-6 was washed away by heavy rain in the Lumshnong area of Meghalaya, leaving vehicles stranded and isolating these districts from other parts of the state and the northeastern region.

 

The flooding has submerged 3,238.8 hectares of crop area and affected 2,34,535 animals.

 

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

 

A total of 35,640 people have sought refuge in 110 relief camps, with the highest number of 19,646 in Hojai, followed by 12,110 in Cachar, 2,060 in Hailakandi, and 1,613 in Karimganj.

 

The continuous rainfall and thunderstorms have brought life to a standstill in the three districts of Barak Valley and Dima Hasao. Other affected districts have also reported intermittent rain and storms.

 

In Karimganj, Cachar, and Hailakandi districts, the Barak river and its tributaries—Longai, Kushiara, Singla, and Katakhal—are flowing above the danger level at several locations.

 

Four embankments have been damaged in Karimganj, exacerbating the situation. In Silchar town, which experienced a devastating flood in 2022, waterlogging has caused severe traffic disruptions.

 

Dima Hasao district is experiencing significant hardships due to relentless rain, which has severely impacted road connectivity.

 

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

 

Train services, which were cancelled or short-terminated due to landslides along the Haflong-Badarpur rail route, have yet to be restored.

 

The southwest monsoon has arrived in Assam and other parts of the Northeast earlier than scheduled, influenced by cyclone Remal, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

 

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