Flood toll in Assam rises to 31, house collapse kills 9 in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Jul 31: The flood toll in Assam rose to 31 with two more deaths being reported today even as the rain- triggered building collapse in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi claimed nine lives while lightning strikes in Odisha killed three more persons.

According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority, two persons were killed at Bokakhat in Golaghat district taking the toll to 31.

Nearly 17 lakh people have been affected in 2,266 villages in 21 districts in the state, with Morigaon being the worst-hit. Authorities are running 463 relief camps and distribution centres, where almost 1.5 lakh people have taken shelter in 18 districts.

Brahmaputra river is flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat, Goalpara and Dhubri towns. In Bhiwandi, nine persons were killed when a building collapsed due to heavy rains while incessant downpour in Mumbai, Thane and Palghar hit normal life. Lightning strikes in Odisha have claimed three more lives taking the toll to 32 in the past two days.

Heavy rainfall and thundershower coupled with gusty surface wind are likely to lash several parts of Odisha due to a low pressure area over the Bay of Bengal. The meteorological centre in Bhubaneswar said rain or thundershower is very likely to occur at most places over north and south Odisha tomorrow.

Gusty surface wind with 35 to 45 kmph speed and up to 50 kmph may prevail along and off south Odisha coast. Sea condition would be moderate to rough in south Odisha coast and fishermen are advised to be cautious while venturing into sea.

In Bihar, where the flood toll stood at 26, an estimated 27.50 lakh people have been affected in 12 districts, though no fresh casualty was reported.

Rivers including Ghaghra, Bagmati, Koshi and Mahananda are flowing above the danger mark at several places. The floods have also damaged crops in 3.39 lakh hectares of land. On the flood situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his monthly 'Mann ki Baat' programme said the state governments and the Centre are working closely, making all efforts to help the affected people.

The national capital recorded scant rainfall and high relative humidity level of upto 100 per cent troubling people. The maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 31.3 degrees Celsius, three notches below the normal while the minimum was recorded at 26 degrees Celsius, one degree below the normal.

PTI