GUWAHATI, July 25 ? Though the water levels of the major rivers are receding, the overall flood situation still remains grim and the road communication to all the flood-affected areas remains cut off. The death toll in the current wave of floods has increased to 136.
According to the flood bulletin issued by the State Government this evening, more than 1.17 crore people of the State have been affected by the current wave of floods and more than 15.87 lakh affected people are still taking shelter in 1557 relief camps.
Though the water levels of all the major rivers in Morigaon district are receding, some portions of the National Highway 37 still remain submerged. All Government offices including the offices of the Deputy Commissioner, circuit house, etc. are still under floodwaters. Relief operations by the civil administration, police, Army and CRPF are continuing in the affected areas of the district.
The overall flood situation in Karimganj district is gradually improving, but the road communication to the district still remains disrupted. The death toll in the current wave of floods in the district has gone up to five with the drowning of one more person. The Hailakandi district still remains cut off from the rest of the State.
Traffic along the National Highway 52 in Darrang district is marshalled in convoys as a large number of people are taking shelter on the Highway.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today inspected several relief camps in Kamrup and Morigaon district to take stock of the prevailing situation in which scores of flood-affected people have been left homeless. Kapalkata, Chamata Pathar, Khetri, in Kamrup district and Jagiroad, Amlighat, Palaguri, Nelli, Dharamtul Hatigaon, Bangalmara Telehi in Morigaon district are some of the places where Gogoi met with flood affected people and took note of the relief measures taken up by the government.
The Chief Minister assured the people that all the provisions of relief would be made available to them, and added that medical camps would be established in the relief camps. He also inspected the erosion-affected stretches of the NH 37 near Dharamtul-Hatigaon, and Bongalmora-Telahi.
Our Correspondents report: Jagiroad: The flood situation in the district is gradually improving but the road communication between Upper and Lower Assam still remains cut off. Hundreds of trucks carrying essential goods are stranded on the National Highway 37 since July 19.
Mangaldoi: The overall flood situation in Mangaldoi is improving, even as more than 1.5 lakh flood-affected people are still taking shelter in 179 relief camps. A population of about five lakh has been affected by the recent floods, and as many as 388 villages have been inundated by floodwaters.
Tangla: After the destruction caused by the floods in the northwest part of the newly created Udalguri district, people have been affected by diarrhoea in the area in and around Panery. Diarrhoea and malaria have affected about 150 villages under the Harishinga Revenue Circle.
Among the areas that have experienced outbreak of diarrhoea, Panery Tea Garden has suffered the most. At least 14 people including children have died in No 10 line of the tea garden. Nine patients are presently undergoing treatment in the Panery Central Hospital.