Assam Flood Situation Still Remains Grim

Guwahati, July 4 (IANS): The situation in Assam after the floods still remains gloomy with over 3.5 lakh remaining affected in about 13 districts, an official of the state Disaster Management Authority said on Tuesday.

 But there have been one casualty so far due to the floods, the official said. A minor girl was drowned in Lakhimpur district on Monday.

 Over 740 villages in Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Jorhat, Cachar, Dhemaji, Biswanath, Karimganj, Sonitpur, Darrang, Hojai, Majuli, Barpeta and Nagaon districts have been affected.

 About more than 200 villages were reported to have submerged in Karimganj district affecting over two lakh people.

 In Lakhimpur also, over 150 villages have been affected due to the floods where close to one lakh people were reported to be marooned.

 The flood waters have destroyed crops in 14,884 hectares of agricultural land in the state.

 Most of the affected farmlands are located in Jorhat and Dhemaji districts, the official said.

 The administration has intensified relief and rescue operations and opened 145 relief camps in different districts housing over 21,000 people so far.

 The floods have also damaged infrastructure in Majuli, Biswanath, Darrang, Karimganj and other places, affecting roads and bridges and severing communication.