18 lakhs hit by Assam floods, toll rises to 18

The flood situation in Assam continued to remain grim with the number of affected people rising to over 18 lakh on Thursday. With five more deaths reported during the day, the number of human lives lost stood at 18. The Army has been pressed into service to rescue marooned people in Bongaigaon, Jorhat, and Golaghat, in addition to the NDRF and SDRF personnel.

In Guwahati, the Brahmaputra that has been flowing above the danger level for the past three days has caused extensive damage to the embankment near Khanamukh and Dharapur, with the LGBI Airport in the state capital coming under threat. In Majuli, the Brahmaputra has washed away hundreds of houses after a major embankment was damaged on Wednesday morning.

Jorhat, Golaghat, Darrang, Dhemaji, Bongaigaon, Lakhimpur, Goalpara, Sonitpur and Nagaon districts remained the worst-affected while farmers across 22 districts have incurred the heavy loss in terms of standing crops as well as poultry and farm animals. An estimate by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority puts the number of affected animals at around 12 lakh, while death is staring at several lakh poultry birds.

Five deaths were reported during the day, with three occurring in Barpeta district in lower Assam. One death each occurred due to drowning in the floods in Dhemaji and Kokrajhar.

The Brahmaputra continued to wreak havoc by causing breaches to embankments in Golaghat, Barpeta, Dhubri, Biswanath, Goalpara and Nagaon districts. Floods have damaged roads and cut off communication in several districts. A number of wooden bridges have also been washed away.

CM Sarbananda Sonowal visits flood-hit areas.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal made an aerial survey and visited affected villages in his assembly constituency of Majuli, apart from Lakhimpur and Jorhat. He spoke to the people rendered homeless by the floods and directed officials to leave no stone unturned in providing relief to those who were affected.

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