Flood situation improves in Assam

Guwahati, June 19 (UNI) The flood situation in Assam's North Lakhimpur district improved significantly today with water level receding, though the snapping of communication through national highway 52 remained a cause of concern.

Deputy Commissioner Manish Thakur informed over telephone that water level had gone down significantly in the last 24 hours, with the death toll remaining at seven.

The railway communication was restored yesterday and a trial run was also conducted, with complete functioning expected by this evening. However, the construction of the 45-mt Bailey bridge over NH 52 near Ganeshmandir would take some time, Mr Thakur said.

He informed that the administration has arranged for transportation of people from flood affected areas on boats and other small vehicles against payment of a nominal amount.

On distribution of relief materials to remote areas, the DC said snapping of road communication in some interior areas had led to delay, but almost all places have been covered by last night. Sudden release of water from a NEEPCO dam and break down of two NHPC coffer dams in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh had caused flash floods in North Lakhimpur and Sonitpur districts since June 14.

According to official reports, more than three lakh people have been affected in nearly 400 villages in the two districts with 20,000 people sheltered in 14 relief camps.As many as 7525 cattles were killed by floods and 780640 hectares of crop land affected.

UNI SG ADG RD1438