GUWAHATI, Aug 20 - The overall death toll in floods this year has gone up to more than 150 with the toll in the current wave of floods mounting to 67 today. However, the situation reported slight improvement today with the number of districts affected by the fury of floods coming down to 15.
Official sources told The Assam Tribune that the State witnessed two waves of floods this year so far. As many as 84 people lost their lives in the first wave of floods, which started on March 31 and lasted till the end of July. The second wave of floods hit the State on August 10 and so far claimed 67 lives. Altogether nine persons lost their lives in Kokrajhar in the second wave of floods, followed by Bongaigaon where seven persons died.
The official flood bulletin released here this evening said that there has been some improvement in the overall situation but the Brahmaputra river is still flowing above danger level at Neamatighat and Dhubri. The Dhansiri (South) is flowing above danger level at Numaligarh, while Kopili and Beki are flowing above danger level at Dharamtul and Road Bridge point in Barpeta respectively.
The bulletin said that during the current wave of floods, 3,82,67 hectares of crop area in 31 districts were affected, while more than 52,000 marooned people were rescued by the personnel of the State Disaster Response Force, National Disaster Response Force, Army and other government agencies.
Despite improvement in the overall situation, 44 revenue circles in 15 districts are still under floodwaters even as 145 relief camps and 131 relief distribution centres are still functioning. As of today, more than 54,900 people are staying in the relief camps.
