Heavy Rains Wreak Havoc in Assam: 6.71 Lakh People Affected in Severe Flood, Wildlife in Kaziranga Seeks Refuge
Eight rivers are currently flowing above the danger mark, including the Brahmaputra, which has breached its highest flood level at Nematighat in Jorhat district.
Guwahati: Assam continues to battle a critical flood situation, with over 6.71 lakh individuals affected across 20 districts in the state’s second wave of flooding this year. The Indian Air Force (IAF) played a crucial role in the rescue operation, saving 13 stranded fishermen from the severely-hit Dibrugarh district. The situation is worsen by at least 13 major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, flowing above the danger level at various locations. An official bulletin has issued alerts for heavy to very heavy rainfall in several districts, further intensifying the crisis. Rescue efforts were focused on Hatia Ali, a ‘char’ (sandbar) area in Dibrugarh, following a request from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). “ASDMA requested IAF to airlift these 13 stranded fishermen. All the expenditure for airlifting the people will be borne by ASDMA,” the official told news agency PTI.
The IAF, sharing pictures related to the rescue operation on X, wrote: “#IAF rescued 13 marooned survivors from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra, north of Dibrugarh in Assam. On 2 Jul 24, after a sunrise takeoff, a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions and undertook rescue ops from a marshy piece of land.”
#IAF rescued 13 marooned survivors from a small island in the flooded Brahmaputra, north of Dibrugarh in Assam.
On 02 Jul 24, after a sunrise takeoff, a Mi-17 IV helicopter from AFS Mohanbari flew in challenging weather conditions and undertook rescue ops from a marshy piece of… pic.twitter.com/hhr2PJheg8
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) July 2, 2024
On Sunday, the IAF had rescued 8 State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel and a revenue official from Jonai in Dhemaji district when they were stranded in another sandbar area during relief operations.
Dibrugarh worst affected
The current wave of floods has wreaked havoc in Dibrugarh district, particularly affecting the major town in Upper Assam for the sixth consecutive day. An ASDMA bulletin said that 6,71,167 people were reeling under flood waters in 67 revenue circles in 20 districts – Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Darrang, Chirang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Majuli, Karimganj, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Nalbari.
With one fatality confirmed in the last 24 hours, the death toll in this year’s flood, storm and landslide rose to 46.
The Brahmaputra is flowing over the red mark at Neamatighat (Jorhat), Tezpur (Sonitpur), Guwahati (Kamrup) and Dhubri (Dhubri).
Other major rivers that have breached the danger level are Subansiri at Badatighat (Lakhimpur), Burhidihing at Chenimari (Dibrugarh), Dikhou at Sivasagar, Disang at Nanglamuraghat (Sivasagar), Dhansiri at Numakigarh (Golaghat), Jia-Bharali at NT Road Crossing (Sonitpur), Kopili at Kampur (Nagaon), Puthimari at NH Road Crossing (Kamrup), Beki at Barpeta Road Bridge, Dhaleswari at (Hailakandi), Kushiyara at Karimganj, and Barak river at BP Ghat.
IMD Issues Red Alert in Guwahati and Other places
Heavy rainfall in several districts of Assam, promptedthe Regional Meteorological Centre at Borjhar, Guwahati, to issue an alert. Areas such as Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao are expected to experience heavy to very heavy rainfall.
The situation has led to 8,142 individuals seeking refuge in 72 relief camps across the affected regions. To aid in relief efforts, NDRF teams have been deployed in various districts including Cachar, Barpeta, and Golaghat among others. Additionally, SDRF, fire services, police forces, and volunteers from ASDMA are actively assisting the district administration in flood-affected areas.
The Indian Army has also joined the relief operations in Golaghat district. Furthermore, 614 SDRF personnel, including deep divers, along with 295 boats, have been stationed at 54 locations. The breach of embankments in Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Majuli has been reported, causing damage to critical infrastructure such as roads.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam impacted
Rising water levels have impacted more than 26 per cent of the 233 forest camps at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam, an official report said on Monday.
A total of 61 forest camps across Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve including 22 in Agoratoli range, 10 in Kaziranga, eight in Bagori, five in Burhapahar range, six in Bokakhat and 10 in Biswanath Wildlife Division are under water, according to the official report.
The inundation of the wildlife habitat has resulted in the migration of animals, crossing the National Highway-715 towards the southern direction in East Karbi Anglong district in search of higher altitudes, reported PTI.
No animal deaths due to either floods or accidents while crossing the highway have not been recorded yet.
(With PTI inputs)
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