Guwahati, July 5 (IANS) The death toll in the Assam floods Thursday rose to 100 even as the waters started to recede in most of the 27 affected districts except Dhemaji.
However, the rising water level of the Jiadhal river submerged several villages in the morning. The surging waters have also affected parts of National Highway 52 in the district.
“The waters of Brahmaputra river that flooded the district along with other parts of the state since June 22 have started to recede and people have begun returning to their homes from relief camps,” Dhemaji Deputy Commissioner M.S. Manivannan told IANS.
“However, the waters of Jiadhal has inundated some villages of the district today morning. People there have been shifted to higher places,” he said, adding that the administration was extending all possible help to the flood victims.
Meanwhile, 16 people died in a landslide while another 16 are reported missing from various districts across the state.
With 31 deaths, Barpeta district in lower Assam recorded the highest number of human casualties due to floods till Thursday.
The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) said conditions were improving in almost all the 27 districts except Dhemaji.
Over 800,000 people are still affected by floods in 12 districts while conditions have improved in 15 districts till Thursday, according to SDMA.
It said 2,99,872 people were residing in 536 relief camps in 12 districts.
The state government had set up 622 relief camps, it added.
SDMA also said that the floods had breached 42 embankments in Assam’s Brahmaputra Valley including that of Brahmaputra river and 14 of its tributaries.
In Barak Valley, the rising water level of Longai river breached an embankment in Karimganj district, SDMA said.
The floods have damaged 2,847 black-topped roads, it said. Close to 400 bridges, both concrete and wooden, have also been damaged.
