2nd wave of floods hits Assam; 1.05 lakh affected, 14 districts under flood

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 17, 2024

Assam is in the grip of a second wave of floods due to incessant rainfall in the catchment areas for the last three days.

Altogether 1,05,786 people from 309 villages under 21 revenue circles of 14 districts were affected by the deluge, an official bulletin of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said.

14 districts have been affected – Tamulpur, Bongaigaon, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Udalguri, Darrang, Dhemaji, Nagaon, Hojai, Chirang, Barpeta, Baksa, Nalbari and Goalpara.

Kopili is flowing above the danger level at Kampur in Nagaon district, the ASDMA said.

Karimganj is worst affected with 95,315 population of 192 villages under Nilambazar, RK Nagar, Badarpur and Karimganj revenue circles.

Due to the rising water level of the Kapili River, 11 villages were affected under Kampur Revenue Circle of Nagaon district.

In Goalpara district, 20 tarpaulins were distributed among the Ghagua River erosion-affected families under Lakhipur revenue circle.

The water level of the Ghagua River has been decreasing.

Guwahati and Silchar have been affected by urban flooding.

The flood water also submerged 1005.7 hectares of cropland across the state.

11 relief camps and three relief distribution centres were opened in the affected districts.

A total of 3,168 inmates have taken shelter in the relief camps.

62,173 domestic animals were affected and 21 were washed away by the deluge.

The flood also damaged roads, bridges, embankments, schools and other public infrastructures across the state.

21.5 quintals of rice, 3,81 quintals of dal, 1.14 quintals of salt, and 114 litres of mustard oil were distributed among the affected people.

Meanwhile, Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast for more rainfall in the state till June 20.     

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) of the IMD issued a red alert for heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated places of the state.

“The east-west trough runs from northwest Bihar to Meghalaya across the cyclonic circulation over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal at 0.9 km above mean sea level. A cyclonic circulation lies over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal and the neighbourhood and extends up to 1.5 km above mean sea level. Another cyclonic circulation lies over northeast Assam and the neighbourhood, between 1.5 km and 5.8 km above mean sea level,” the IMD said in its weekly weather forecast.

“Under the influence of the above synoptic conditions and moisture incursion from the Bay of Bengal due to S-ly/SW-ly winds in the lower lever, widespread rainfall accompanied by heavy to very heavy rainfall from June 16th–20th, 2024, and exceptionally heavy rain on June 18th, 2024,” the IMD added.