Flood situation shows fringy improvement in Asom

Guwahati, Aug 2: After 18 days of incessant rains and resultant flood that claimed 20 lives so far, there are signs of marginal improvement in the situation along Brahmaputra valley with the sun shining brightly.

Meanwhile, the flood situation worsened in Lower Assam after releasing of water from Bhutan on Tuesday night.

With around 55 lakh people affected, which amounted to one fourth of the state's population, this is one of the worst floods that Assam witnessed.

The animals at Kaziranga were not left out as some died in flood and other were slaughtered by poachers and greedy villagers.

Like every year, flood ravaged populace of Assam have adapted themselves to live with the natural fury, but animals of Kaziranga were killed as they tried to take shelter on the highlands.

''We have taken precautionary measures. All the forest camps have been shifted to the National Highway and the villages. There are mobile patrolling. There are even supports from villagers, but there are still reports of villagers killing helpless deers for meat. This is terrible and insensitive,'' said CCF (Wildlife) M C Malakar.

With forecasts of water level receding in the next 72 hours, Assam government is gearing up for post flood management. According to official sources, medicine stock is adequate, but the accessibility to the flood ravaged areas with no proper roads remained the biggest hurdle.

''We have made adequate arrangements,'' said Dr Himanta Biswa Sharma, Health Minister, and Assam.

The Brahmaputra although has been flowing above the danger level, has shown a receding trend and met office predicted that the intensity would be reduced if the rain stopped.

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

Meanwhile, sudden release of water from Bhutan on Tuesday night worsened the flood situation in lower Assam districts.

Swelling Kurishu river in Bhutan had flooded new areas of Barpeta, Baska and Chirang districts of lower Assam after the Bhutanese authorities released water without any alert to the border districts of Assam.

The flood waters also threatened to disrupt traffic through the NH 31 in some places in lower Assam. About eight lakh people were affected by the fresh floods and inter-district road communication remained snapped.

UNI