Assam flood toll climbs to 80 as 2.12 lakh remain hit in eight districts

Guwahati: Assam’s flood toll has risen to 80 after two more deaths were reported in Sivasagar, even as more than 2.12 lakh people continue to be affected across eight districts, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said on Friday.

The latest bulletin from ASDMA said 2,12,441 people are currently grappling with floodwaters in Golaghat, Sivasagar, Biswanath, Charaideo, Kamrup (Metro), Jorhat, Dhemaji and Nagaon. A total of 437 villages in 21 revenue circles have been hit, with 17,198.09 hectares of crop area submerged, causing heavy losses to agriculture.

Both the fresh fatalities were reported from Sivasagar in the past 24 hours, pushing the season’s flood-related death count to 80, officials said. Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, with 21 relief camps set up to shelter displaced families and district administrations distributing food, drinking water and other essentials.

Urban flooding persists in parts of Kamrup (Metro), where two localities — Padumbari and Tetelia-Boragaon Service Lane — remain waterlogged. Meanwhile, ASDMA issued a public advisory late on Thursday urging people to avoid the Dhansiri (South) River after its water level at Numaligarh in Golaghat kept rising.

Authorities said the situation is being closely monitored, especially in vulnerable low-lying and riverbank areas, and residents have been asked to stay alert and follow official advisories as several rivers continue to flow above normal levels.

(Inputs from IANS)