BARPETA, June 21 � The overall flood situation in Barpeta district has slightly improved since yesterday with the rivers showing a receding trend.
But majority of the habitat areas and agricultural fields remain submerged which will take few more days to relieve completely.
The total number of people killed in the present wave of flood has risen to seven till now. According to information available, Bijay Das, son of Laksman Das, a resident of Gaherpam, about five kilometers away from here, was washed away by the strong current of flood water on June 19 last. Das was busy in feeding his buffaloes at the time of the fateful incident.
Altogether 217 villages have been affected in the flood consisting a population of about three lakh people. Property worth several crores of rupees including 650 houses have been either damaged or washed away by the flood.
Our Staff Reporter adds: The State Government on Thursday announced that it would adequately compensate all the families affected by the recent floods. The Deputy Commissioners in the affected districts have been directed to take the necessary steps in this connection and prepare a report at the earliest.
Government spokesperson and Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka said that vast areas of cropland have been submerged by the floods and the fishery sector would be incurring heavy loss in the worst affected Barpeta district. The other districts badly affected by flood are Udalguri, Bongaigaon and Nalbari.
Addressing media persons here, Deka said that the government would also prepare a list of the farmers who have been affected by the flood and would help them tide over the situation.
�A total of 9754.83 hectares of cropland have been damaged by the floods. The agriculture department would distribute free seed to the affected farmers and help in other ways as well,� said Deka disclosing that eight people have lost their lives so far in the flood.
