A crop area of 21,523.08 hectares remained submerged in Assam. More than 11,000 animals have been washed away, while another 17,000 have been affected.Damage to various infrastructure, including embankments, houses, roads, schools and other public property, was also reported from various parts, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin said
Guwahati/Bhubaneswar:The flood situation in Assam remained grim on Thursday even as water receded from most parts of the state, with the death toll rising to 78 and over three lakh people continuing to reel under the deluge, officials said.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD), however, forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms at isolated places across the state and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland over the next three days, raising concerns for districts bordering the two states.
There was no rain in most of the flood-hit Upper Assam districts. So, water level continued to recede from the inundated villages, giving some respite to villagers,” an official of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.
The authority’s daily flood bulletin issued on Wednesday night said three deaths were reported in the last 24 hours — two from Sivasagar district and one from Golaghat. With these, the toll in this year’s flood has reached 78.
Altogether 3,00,031 people remained affected, with Charaideo being the worst-hit with 1,37,561 people impacted, followed by Sivasagar (84,600) and Jorhat (49,911).
More than 16,500 displaced people were taking shelter in 71 relief camps. Another 30 relief distribution centres were catering to over 72,000 people.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday dialled Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take stock of the flood situation, while the latter said that although floodwaters have receded, many are unable to return as their houses have either been damaged or filled with mud and silt.
Shah, who called Sarma for the second time in seven days, assured him of all possible assistance from the Centre for relief and restoration efforts.
Multiple agencies, including medical and veterinary teams, remained pressed in rescue operations in the affected areas.
A crop area of 21,523.08 hectares remained submerged. More than 11,000 animals have been washed away, while another 17,000 have been affected.
Damage to various infrastructure, including embankments, houses, roads, schools and other public property, was also reported from various parts, the ASDMA bulletin added.
Odisha on high alert
Meanwhile, the IMD has predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall along with thunderstorms from July 30 to August 1 at isolated places across Assam and parts of Arunachal Pradesh, which may affect the Assam districts of Tinsukia, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur.
The ASDMA urged people of the districts concerned to take all necessary precautions and remain vigilant and said the status of the situation would be updated on its official website and on all its social media handles from time to time for general awareness.
Meanwhile,Odisha remained on high alert on Thursday as the flood situation continued to be grim in four northern districts, while rising water levels in the Mahanadi triggered fears of a “medium” flood in the river’s downstream areas, officials said.
Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Suresh Pujari said that although water levels in some rivers in north Odisha were receding, they continued to flow above the danger mark and fresh areas were inundated overnight.
“The administration is on high alert and leave of all officials in the flood-affected districts has been cancelled,” he said.
Floods triggered by incessant rain under the influence of a deep depression inundated several villages in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur and Mayurbhanj districts.
In view of the IMD’s rainfall forecast and the flood situation, authorities ordered the closure of schools and anganwadi centres in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Nabarangpur and Kalahandi districts.
Rescue operations were intensified, and more than 1.65 lakh people were evacuated to safer places, officials said. So far, over six lakh people have been affected due to the floods.
Jajpur collector Ambar Kumar Kar said the flood situation worsened after two breaches developed in the embankment of the Kani river, a tributary of the Baitarani, near Patana under Dasarathapur block on Wednesday night.
The breaches marooned several villages and inundated fresh areas, severely affecting people in three blocks, officials said.
Meanwhile, swelling water level in the Mahanadi emerged as a major concern, prompting authorities to alert districts along the river basin following heavy rainfall in its upper catchment areas in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh.
“The situation has intensified as floodwaters from the Tel, Ib and Jira rivers are adding to the Mahanadi’s flow, leading to a further rise in the water level,” an official said.
The water level at the Hirakud Dam stood at 620 feet against its full reservoir level of 630 feet.
The reservoir was receiving an inflow of 3,31,063 cusecs, while 64,109 cusecs were being released downstream through two gates.
Officials said additional gates may have to be opened if the water level continues to rise.
Water Resources Department Engineer-in-Chief Dillip Kumar Rout said around eight lakh cusecs of water was flowing through Mundali near Cuttack at 6 am on Thursday, and the discharge could rise to nine lakh cusecs by evening, resulting in a medium flood in the Mahanadi system.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, who is in Delhi, said in a social media post on Wednesday night that he had directed all district collectors to remain on high alert and ensure timely assistance to all affected people.
“I appeal all not to panic over the flood situation. Safety and security of citizens is the priority of the state government,” the chief minister said.
Meteorological Centre, Bhubaneswar, Director Manorama Mohanty said rainfall intensity was likely to decrease across the state on Thursday, though light rain accompanied by thunderstorms was expected in several districts.