Third wave of flood hit Assam, toll touches 12

Guwahati, Sep 9 (UNI) As many as 12 people have been killed so far in the third and most destructive of flood in Assam which badly affected all National Highways crossing through the northeastern state hitting connectivity and rescue measures.

Parts of the National Highway were washed away at Sonapur, Bhabanipur and Bokakhat in upper Assam affecting road connectivity between Silchar-Shillong, Bongaigaon-Guwahati, specially for heavy vehicles.

Although the water level of Brahmaputra has receded in Dibrugarh it is flowing one and half metre above the danger level.

The meteorological office has predicted more rains as already 12 million people across 20 districts of the state have been reeling under the flood fury.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today cancelled his proposed visit to Bangalore in view of the catastrophic flood. The state machinery has been working round the clock to save the affected people.

The transport authorities have informed that about 20,000 trucks have been stranded at three points. A number of trucks was stranded between Bongaigaon and Bhabanipur, at Amoniand Bagori in central Assam at on the Shillong-Silchar road.

However, small passenger vehicles were allowed to travel between Bokakhat and Dergaon as the Numaligarh stretch of the National Highway has been knocked off by the surging water.

Two people each were swept away in Golokganj, Kampur and Cachar and one in Behali in the past 24 hours. The authorities are suspecting that many reports are not coming in because communication has snapped at many places.

EDS: Please pick up suitably from earlier series.

UNI