Two lakh affected in Assam flood

Nearly two lakh people have been affected by the first wave of flood which has hit Assam's twin districts of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, at least 20000 hectare of agricultural land had been covered by the flood waters damaging standing crops.

Four people have so far lost their lives in the flood that has inundated nearly 200 villages in the worst affected Jonai sub division, official sources said in Guwahati on Sunday.

The district administrations of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji have pressed into service motor boats for rescue and relief operations.

The boats belong to the districts Disaster Management authority but incessant rain has hampered rehabilitation operation.

Flood has also affected neighbouring Sonitpur district with revenue circles of Halem and Gohpur under water of the swollen Subansiri river.

Meanwhile, the swirling water of river Jiadhol has caused flash flood in parts of villages of Kechukana, Lowmunri, Misamari and Naruathan.

Food items are being supplied to the affected people by the Dhemaji district administration.

Rain-fed river Brahmaputra, its tributaries and other rivers flowing down from the upper reaches of Arunachal were causing the first wave of floods in Assam submerging 105 villages in Lakhimpur district affecting 1.25 lakh people, officials said on Saturday.

While the rising Humdiri river in Lakhimpur had overrun 15 new villages under Lakhimpur revenue circle overnight, the swollen Subansiri flowing down from the neighbouring state was rising menacingly breaching an agricultural embankment.

At least 20000 hectare of agricultural land had been covered by the flood waters damaging standing crops there, the sources said.

Four persons drowned on Friday when the Ranganadi embankment breached at Kharkati under Lakhimpur revenue circle.

In neighbouring Dhemaji district the deluge caused by the swollen Jiadhol river affected Kechukhana, Ghuguha, Lowmuri, Naruathan and other areas affecting 25000 people, officials said.

The surging waters overtopping the National Highway 52 connecting Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts with Arunachal closing traffic on Friday has, however, ebbed and movement of vehicles was restored on Saturday.

In Sonitpur district, the flood waters of Brahmaputra's tributary Jiabhorali breached a major embankment at Gotaimari, submerging three villages and rendering 25 families homeless on Saturday.

Chatrang river overran Ward number four areas of Gohpur town inundating most of its low lying areas and of Brahmajan and Kalabari areas.

The Jiabhorali and Depota rivers were rising alarmingly and were feared to cross their danger levels soon unless the heavy rainfall ceased.

Meanwhile, the district administrations were on high alert and providing relief materials in the affected areas, officials added.