Flood hits Northeast States, affects 4.5 lakh in Assam

Assam, June 18: The devastating flood in the Northeast has claimed six more lives during the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 23, although the situation in the region showed a marked improvement on Sunday, barring Assam, officials said.

Five people drowned in the current spate of floods in Assam on Sunday, taking the death toll to 23 in the state since the first wave hit the state five days ago. Three persons drowned in Cachar district and one each in Hailakandi and Karimganj districts in Barak valley.

Nearly 4.5 lakh people in the state remain affected by the deluge. Districts still reeling under flood are Hojai, Karbi Anglong West, Golaghat, Karimganj, Cachar, and Hailakandi.

A total of 1,73,245 displaced people are currently sheltered in 481 relief camps in affected districts. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, Karimganj is the worst-hit, with 2,14,808 people affected.

Brahmaputra at Neamatighat in Jorhat district, Dhansiri river at Numaligarh in Golaghat district, Jia Bharali river in Sonitpur district, Kopili river at Kampur in Nagaon, Barak river at AP Ghat and Badarpurghat in Cachar district, Katakhal at Matizuri in Hailakandi district and Kushiyara in Karimganj districts continued to flow above danger mark on Sunday.

Manipur and Tripura governments are continuing with relief efforts. Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh said on Sunday he urged Union home minister Rajnath Singh to extend immediate assistance to those currently living in relief camps in the five valley districts.