Flood scene in Assam grim, Kaziranga Park flooded

Guwahati, July 18 : The flood situation in Assam continued to be grim Monday in the four districts of Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Golaghat with over 300 people rendered homeless while the low-lying areas of Kaziranga National Park submerged. The Brahmaputra and most of its tributaries were flowing above
the danger level in the districts, the Central Water Commission said.

With nearly two lakh people reeling under the impact of the first wave of floods and four persons dead so far following incessant rains in the state and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, the Centre had Sunday deployed five teams of the National Disaster Response Force.

The river rising alarmingly towards the danger level was threatening to breach a dyke and inundate a 50-km stretch between Mansiri and Gotaimari.

The flood waters had entered the Kaziranga Park, home to the one-horned rhino, in Golaghat district, officials said.

The rain-fed streams had overflowed submerging some low-lying areas and a few forest check-posts in Kaziranga.

The animals in the park were, however, safe as high platforms were constructed for their shelter, officials said.

In Sonitpur, the Jiabhorali, a tributary of Brahmaputra, washed away 500 hectares along with 25 houses making over 300 people homeless at Tikajan area near Tezpur town, they said.

The NDRF was engaged in rescue and relief operations in the flood affected areas of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji, where the district administrations have pressed into service motorised boats for rescue and relief operations, they said.

The district administration and forest department were taking necessary precautionary measures and conducting relief operations.

Food items were also being supplied to the affected people by the district administrations.

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