More Than 4 Lakh People Displaced By Floods In Assam; Soil Erosion Threatens Existence Of 19 Villages

As many as 17 of 33 districts of Assam have been affected by the floods due to the rising waters of river Brahmputra and its tributaries. More than 4.23 lakh people have been displaced in Assam by the floods caused by torrential rain, reports The Hindu.

According to the report, Assam State Disaster Management Authority officials said that the rising waters of river Brahmputra and at least six of its tributaries have force 4,23,386 people to abandon their homes and move to shelter in higher areas. However, only 1,834 people, including 281 children, have moved into 53 relief camps that the local administrations have opened for the people affected from floods.

As per the officials, the floods have resulted in estimated crop damage on 16,370.72 hectares of farmland, breaching of five major embankments in as many districts. Besides, the soil erosion due to the floods have threatened the existence of 19 villages. The rising flood water has either damaged or submerged as many as 64 roads and a dozen bridges.

Meanwhile, in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tibet-bordering Tawang district, torrential rain resulted in death of two girls after a wall collapsed on their school hostel.

“Torrential rain loosened the earth and the wall, which was built on a slope fell on the hostel building around 3am. The girls were identified as Rinchin Lhamu and Genden Wangmu,” an official was quoted in the report as saying.