Flood shows signs of improvement in Assam

Guwahati, July 14: The flood situation in Assam on July 13 showed improvement in some areas even as the majority of the affected locations are still under water.

In an official release, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said the flood water receded in Chirang and Lakhimpur districts, while the situation in the worst-hit Dhemaji and Jorhat had also marginally improved.

However, most of the villages in 12 affected districts were still under water. "As on today, Bongaigaon, Dhemaji, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts are still affected by floods," ASDMA said.

The first wave of flood this season since mid-May has affected nearly 1.5 lakh people in about 500 villages across 12 districts in the state, official sources said.

At present, seven relief camps sheltering 1,500 people were operational in Dhemaji and Sivasagar districts. In all the 12 affected districts, the flood waters have destroyed standing crops like rice in around 7,000 hectares of agricultural land.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh spoke to the state Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and assured him of all kinds of central help.

The 12 affected districts are Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Chirang, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Sivasagar and Bongaigaon.

PTI