Nearly 2 Lakh People In 20 Districts In Assam Affected By Floods: ASDMA

Mumbai: Around 1,97,248 people have been affected by the floods in 20 districts, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.

Hojai and Cachar are the worst hit with 78,157 and 51,357 people affected respectively, it added. Two flood-related deaths were reported in the Cachar district, while three fatalities due to landslides were earlier recorded in Dima Hasao.

It said that till now a total of 652 villages of 46 revenue divisions of 20 districts have been affected.

Around 55 relief camps have been opened in seven districts, in which 32,959 people have been given shelter. Another 12 relief distribution centres are also operational in various affected districts.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), fire brigade and emergency services are carrying out rescue operations in the flood-affected areas among local people.

In the last 24 hours, embankments have broken at 16 places in different districts. Roads, bridges and houses have been completed or partially damaged in many areas. Communication channels have also been closed in Dima Hasao.

“Due to landslides, the district cannot be approached from outside. All roads and railways leading to Haflong is blocked since May 15,” the bulletin said.

The evacuation of around 2,800 passengers of two trains stranded on the Lumding-Badarpur section in Dima Hasao for the last two days due to landslides and water-logging on the tracks was completed on Monday, a Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) release in Guwahati said.

The Indian Air Force airlifted several passengers while incessant rain hampered the rescue operation, which was underway since Saturday, it said.

“After rescuing and evacuating all passengers, railways is now making efforts to restore the damaged line and to resume train services to South Assam, Manipur, Tripura and Mizoram,” the statement said.

The New Haflong Railway Station is completely inundated with debris and an empty passenger train standing at the station has been washed off the tracks due to a massive landslide, it said.

Around 18 trains have been cancelled and more than 10 short-terminated as work for the restoration of the damaged railway tracks is underway despite the rain.

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