Assam floods: Lakhs affected, one dead

Tezpur/Kaziranga: The flood situation in Assam turned grim on Saturday after a child died as the Brahmaputra and its tributaries inundated vast tracts of land in Upper Assam and the Kaziranga National Park following incessant rainfall in the catchment areas.

The flood situation turned critical in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Sonitpur districts with a minor boy being washed away by the flood water in Naoboicha area of Lakhimpur.

In Kaziranga National Park (KNP), famed for its one-horned rhino, the rising water of the Brahmaputra inundated low-lying areas in almost all the ranges with the animals moving to the highlands in neighbouring Karbi Anglong district, KNP Divisional Forest Officer SK Seal Sarmah said.

"Water has entered 50 camps across the Park with three camps evacuated in the Northern range," he said. The animals have migrated to the highland across NH-37 and to check speeding vehicles barricades have been set up and time-cards introduced to control the speed of the vehicles, Sarmah added.

In Lakhimpur, nearly one lakh people have been affected in six revenue circles of Dhakuakhona, Naoboicha, Bihpuria, Narayanpur, North Lakhimpur and Subansiri by the rising water of the Ranganadi, the Deputy Commissioner of Police said.

Lakhimpur district administration has launched rescue operation to bring the affected persons to relief camps and and relief material was being distributed to the affected families, he said.

Flood water has also risen in the rivers Sarigharia, Koha, Kumotia and Gainodi resulting in the damage of several hectares of standing crops, he said.

In Dhakuakhona circle, the tributaries of river Kumotia and Jidahol river have also inundated vast tracts of land, the officer said.

In Dhemaji district, more than 70 villages have been submerge by the flood water of the Brahmaputra and one relief camp has been opened by the district administration, according to an official report.

In Sonitpur district, rising level of the Brahmaputra has also affected three panchayats - Bordoloni, Botamuli and Paken under Gohpur sub-division.