GUWAHATI, July 28 ? The overall flood situation is gradually improving in the State. Some relief camp inmates are now leaving for their homes. But, according to the official flood bulletin here this evening the situation is under watch in Morigaon, Karimganj, Nagaon, Goalpara etc, which are the worst affected districts.
Road communication in many districts is still disrupted. The NH 37 has been opened for vehicular traffic and is now witness to a heavy traffic jam because of the heavy rush of the upper Assam-bound trucks, said our Jagiroad Correspondent. On the other hand, though the NH 52 has been opened for vehicular traffic, movement of the vehicles is suspended on the Highway between Sipajhar and Dumunichowki in the night hours after 6 pm, due to the large number of the flood victims taking shelter on this portion of the Highway, said the official bulletin.
The death toll in the current waves of the floods has gone up to 199 in the State while the number of people affected by the flood has shot up to 1,22,78,678 in 10,490 villages, according to the official bulletin. Meanwhile, several deaths have been reported due to post-flood contagious diseases form many flood-ravaged areas.
The current wave of the floods has also damaged 5,22,820 houses fully. According to a statement made in the State Assembly today by Health Minister Dr Bhumidhar Barman, who heads the committee on relief, the flood has affected a crop area of 12,23,851.17 hectares. About 13,13,448 affected people are taking shelter in the relief camps set up by the administration. The administration has set up 1,614 relief camps for the purpose of sheltering the flood victims.
Dr Barman told the House that the State Government has so far spent Rs 85.47 crore to provide relief to the flood victims. The Kushiyara and the Longai are still above the Danger Level (DL) in Karimganj district even as the overall flood situation in the district is improving, said the official bulletin. The Barak is also flowing above the DL in Cachar district though with a receding trend. The Katigorah Revenue Circle in the district is still cut off form the rest of the district and many areas of Silchar town are also still under floodwaters.
However, road communication in Nagaon district is partially restored, while that in Morigaon district remains badly disrupted. The official flood bulletin said that 12 persons had died so far due to diarrhoea in Barpeta flood affected areas.
Our Jagiroad Correspondent reports that repair of the damaged portion of the NH 37 is going on and the district police is controlling the movement of traffic.
Meanwhile, several political parties and voluntary organisations including the Asom Gana Parishad, Congress, Jagiroad Sports Club and the Jagiroad Lions Club, among others, distributed relief materials among the flood victims of the district. About 7.15 lakh people of the district have been affected by the current wave of the floods, which took a toll of 38 human lives in the district.