Monsoon rain claim 25 lives in Assam

Lakhimpur (Assam), Jun 18: Incessant monsoon rains in Assam's Lakhimpur district claimed twenty-five lives. The region reported the first fatalities from the monsoon with a series of landslides, floods and building collapses killing at least 30 people since the weekend.

According to the district authorities 366 villages and over 400,000 people have been affected by the first wave of floods. However, the washing away of the 25-meter long stretch of the National Highway 52 is worrying authorities the most. The highway is the lifeline for the people of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts. Efforts are on to construct a bailey bridge to restore road communication. Red alert has been sounded and the army is working overtime in the affected areas. Soldiers in rafts and wooden boats have rescued hundreds of people.

The district administration has set up 14 relief camps to provide shelter to the affected people. Around 20,000 people have taken shelter in these camps.

Many people are camped on highways in makeshift shelters with whatever belongings they could save from the floodwaters.

The regional weather office warned of more showers in the next 24 hours.

ANI