Guwahati, Aug 18: Assam’s flood situation showed signs of improvement, but the death toll from this year’s deluge rose to 105 after one more person drowned in Sivasagar, while more than 31,900 people remain affected across four districts, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The latest ASDMA figures showed that the 105 fatalities include 64 men, 24 women and 17 children. Sivasagar has recorded the highest number of flood-related deaths at 53, followed by Charaideo with 22, Jorhat nine, Golaghat eight, Karbi Anglong four and Dhemaji three.
More than 31,900 people are currently affected in Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Sivasagar districts. Nagaon is the worst-hit, with nearly 20,000 people affected, followed by Jorhat with more than 5,000 and Sivasagar with over 4,500.
The situation has nevertheless improved from Sunday, when nearly 52,000 people across five districts were affected by the floods.
Authorities are operating 15 relief camps and relief distribution centres across the affected districts, providing assistance to 2,782 people.
The latest bulletin said 147 villages remain inundated, while around 3,198.77 hectares of crop area have been affected by floodwaters. The continuing inundation has raised concerns over crop losses and the impact on the livelihoods of farming communities.
Floodwaters have also damaged embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructure in various districts. Around 16,323 domestic animals and poultry have been affected by the flooding.
The scale of this year’s floods has been significant, with more than 12 lakh people across 25 districts and 2,734 villages affected at various stages during the year.
Assam remains particularly vulnerable to annual monsoon flooding because of its extensive river network, including the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. Heavy rainfall can cause rivers to overflow, inundating villages, agricultural fields and infrastructure and forcing residents in low-lying and riverine areas to move to safer locations.
Disaster management authorities continue to monitor river and water levels and carry out relief and rehabilitation measures in the affected areas.
Further improvement or deterioration in the flood situation will largely depend on rainfall and river water levels in the coming days, officials said.
