Guwahati, June 17: Parts of Assam are currently grappling with the initial phase of flooding this year, with approximately 34,189 people already affected, according to officials. The monsoon arrived in Assam on June 10, accompanied by an average rainfall of 41 mm within a 24-hour period until Friday morning, as reported by the weather department.
The IMD has predicted moderate rainfall in the coming five days, with isolated areas likely to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The district most severely impacted thus far is Lakhimpur in Upper Assam, where villages were inundated on Wednesday after the Singra River breached an embankment at Chamua Gaon and a riverside bund at Philbari Basti.
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In Lakhimpur, 22 villages, totaling 23,516 people, and 21.87 hectares of crops have been affected.
However, as the floods are still in the early stages this year, the government has currently established only one relief camp in the Udalguri district. Meanwhile, 10 relief distribution centers have been set up, primarily in Lakhimpur.
Lakhimpur Deputy Commissioner Sumit Sattawan stated, “Relief measures have been implemented, including the provision of food items such as rice, lentils, oil, and baby food, as well as other essential items like sanitary napkins and cattle feed. The Public Health Engineering department has also distributed halogen tablets and water pouches. Additionally, medical teams have been deployed in flood-affected areas by the health department.”
While none of the rivers in the state have exceeded the danger level, the Central Water Commission has cautioned that the Puthimari and Brahmaputra rivers are facing a severe flood situation in Kamrup and Jorhat districts and are flowing above the warning levels.
The Commission also warned that heavy rainfall expected in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska, Dalguri, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Nalbari, Darrang, Dhemaji, and Lakhimpur over the next two days could cause the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, as well as the Barak river, to swell.
