GUWAHATI, May 31 - The first wave of flood has claimed seven lives so far in the State, although the situation is improving gradually with only the Kopili river flowing above the danger level in Nagaon district as on Sunday. Today, a minor identified as Banidul Ali drowned in floodwaters at Khagrabari village of Goalpara district, the daily flood bulletin of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.
The report said altogether three districts � Goalpara, Nagaon and Hojai � were reeling under flood affecting 2,52,150 people and 25,044 hectares of crop lands. In these districts, 293 villages or localities under seven revenue circles were affected by the flood.
In the past 24 hours, flood damaged a number of embankments in Udalguri and Karimganj districts along with a number of roads in Nagaon and Barpeta districts, bridges and culverts in Sonitpur districts and other infrastructure in Nagaon and Chirang districts.
Moreover, flood-triggered erosion was reported in a number of locations in Dibrugarh and Udalguri districts. At present, 10,249 flood-affected people are taking shelter in 63 relief camps.
On Sunday, chairing a review meeting at ASDMA office, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that since Assam falls in the high seismic zone, people of the State should be encouraged to form a habit of being prepared for such disasters by the ASDMA through regular awareness activities, seminars, mock drills, etc. He also suggested providing knowledge of traditional boat operation to the people in flood-prone areas as contingency survival measures.
Sonowal instructed the ASDMA officials to efficiently use technology for issuing early warning of natural calamities to minimise damage of lives and property. He also directed the officials to hold video conference with the gaonburhas to gather real time information from the ground level about floods and other such calamities.
