GUWAHATI:Assam's flood situation worsened on Wednesday, July 22, with 21 more flood-related deaths reported, taking the overall death toll to 31. According to the latest flood bulletin issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 5,64,146 people have been affected across 16 districts.
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Among the latest fatalities, Sivasagar reported 13 deaths, followed by five in Charaideo, two in Golaghat and one in Jorhat.
The affected districts are Biswanath, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Hojai, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri.
ASDMA said floodwaters have inundated 872 villages across 44 revenue circles. The floods have also submerged 24,210 hectares of agricultural land, affecting standing crops in several districts.
Sivasagar remains the worst-hit district, with more than 3.59 lakh people affected. It is followed by Jorhat (87,662), Charaideo (72,646), Dibrugarh (18,615) and Golaghat (16,799).
The river situation also remains a concern. The Dikhou at Sivasagar and the Disang at Nanglamuraghat are flowing above the Highest Flood Level. The Brahmaputra at Neamatighat, the Burhidihing at Chenimari (Khowang), and the Dhansiri (South) at Golaghat and Numaligarh are flowing above the danger level.
To assist displaced residents, district administrations have set up 273 relief camps and relief distribution centres, where more than 1.14 lakh people are currently taking shelter.
Rescue and relief operations are continuing across the affected districts. Teams from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Assam Police and district administrations are engaged in evacuation, rescue and relief work.
Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a yellow alert for Assam, forecasting thunderstorms with heavy rainfall at isolated places over the next four days. Continued rainfall in the state's river catchment areas could further aggravate the flood situation.