Army called in, 1 crore affected in Assam floods

Guwahati, Sep 10 (UNI) The Army was called in as the third wave of flood reached a catastrophic position with the toll going up to 19 and almost one crore people being affected in the flood.

''I have spoken to both the Defence Secretary as well as army generals here and they have come out in full strength in Lakhimpur where the situation is worst following last night's breach of the Matmora embankment'' said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

He admitted that because of high currents the affected people have not been able to reach Lakhimpur, Barpeta, Morigaon, Barak valley and Nagaon district. ''We are working day and night trying to send in reliefs'' he said.

The flood waters have set new records in Lakhimpur basin where water level of Kaldhaka river at Matabhanga recorded new height last night, while the Sankosh river in Golokganj also crossed all records. Similarly, in Barak valley both Kushiara and Kathakal were flowing above the previous highest water level.

The chief minister today announced a new Assam Flood&Erosion Commission and urged the people to start living with the flood as was the traditional style. He said the recent wave has caused 78 breaches so far which wrecked havoc in 17 districts and 2,250 villages.

He said traffic movement has come to a hal since yesterday afternoon as almost all the National highways have been submerged.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today called for emergency monitoring meeting while cancelling a crucial investment-seeking meeting organised in Bangalore from this afternoon.

Although the sun shone brightly today after five days of uninterrupted rain, but the Central Water Commission report said water had not receded in any of the major rivers as rain continues to lash the lower ridges of Himalaya.

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