Flash floods from Bhutan river deteriorate situation in Assam

Guwahati, Aug 1 (UNI) The swelling Kurishu river in neighbouring Bhutan has flooded new areas of Barpeta, Baska and Sirang districts of lower Assam.

Elsewhere the rising Brahmaputra and its tributaries continued to submerge fresh areas along its course.

The over-all flood situation in the state continued to remain grim as 24 out of 27 districts had been badly hit by the floods, affecting over 45 lakhs of population so far.

Official sources confirmed 15 deaths in the floods, besides hundreds of cattle heads.

However, unofficial sources put the death toll higher than the government figures.

State revenue Minister Bhumidhar Barman said the situation was still very serious with five more people drowned in rain related mishaps overnight and another 30,000 displaced.

Troops of Indian Army were still busy in relief and rescue operations, besides civil authorities were providing food and medicines to the affected people, the minister said.

The flood of Bhutan's Kurishu river washed away the embankments of the Beki river in Barpeta district submerging entire Bajali sub-division last evening.

About eight lakh population of the district had been affected by the floods of the Kurishu in 338 villages, where all inter-district road communications had been badly snapped by the flood waters.

Meanwhhile, a red alert was sounded by the authorities in Rangia yesterday following threat of floods from Barnadi. The waters of Puthimari and Baralia had already created havoc in the area.

Besides, Dhemaji remained cut off from the rest of the country by road since July 12. A breach in the embankment of the Gai river on July 27 last had become a cause for concern for the affected people as more fresh areas had been submerged and road communications severely snapped.

Official sources said the Brahmaputra was flowing above its danger level throughout its course from Dibruarh in upper Assam to Dhubri in Lower Asom. The river was flowing 105.67 metre above its danger level at Dibrugarh, 86,62m at Neamatighat, 65.65m at Tezpur, 49.84 m at Guwahati, 36.73m at Goalpara and 29.62m at Dhubri.

All its tributaries, including the Buridihing, Subansiri, Dekhow, Desang, Jia bharali, Kopili, Puthimari, Pagladia and Beki were also flowing over their danger level at different points in the state.

UNI