Guwahati: Assam’s flood crisis continued to stay severe on Wednesday, with fresh overnight rain raising the risk of more waterlogging in low-lying areas even as the death toll climbed to 89 and the number of affected people crossed 1.22 lakh across five districts, PTI reported.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda made an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas during the day to review the situation and assess relief and rehabilitation work with state officials.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said the Dhansiri river at Numaligarh in Golaghat district remained in a “severe flood situation” on Wednesday morning.
“Due to the continuous rise in the water level of the Dhansiri at Numaligarh, citizens are advised to stay away from the river,” an ASDMA spokesperson said.
According to the ASDMA’s latest flood bulletin, two more people died in the past 24 hours, one each in Sivasagar and Golaghat districts, taking this year’s flood-related death toll to 89.
Over 1,22,100 people remained affected, with Sivasagar being the worst-hit district, where close to 60,000 people have been impacted. Charaideo followed with over 31,000 affected, while Jorhat had nearly 20,000 affected residents.
The administration has been running 55 relief camps and relief distribution centres in four districts, where 17,857 displaced people were taking shelter.
Medical and veterinary teams, along with other agencies, remained engaged in rescue and relief work in the flood-hit areas.
The floods have inundated 15,342.92 hectares of farmland, while 26,575 domestic animals and poultry have also been affected.
The deluge has also caused major damage to embankments, roads, houses, schools and other public infrastructure in several parts of the state, the ASDMA said.