Assam flood : Death toll rises to 77

Guwahati : This year, the tragedy of annual floods in Assam is heightened by the fact that a large number of people have lost their lives mostly due to drowning and electrocution.

On Tuesday, the death toll rose to 77. It's the official estimate; unofficially residents fear that more than 100 people have died so far in various flood-related incidents across the state that has been battling rising water and landslides since June.

On Tuesday, flood situation reportedly saw some improvement as most of the rivers in Assam flowed below the danger mark. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a population of 23,118 is still affected by this wave of floods in nine districts. Currently, around 4,716 inmates are housed in 19 relief camps.

Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia on Tuesday apprised a seven-member inter-ministerial central team on the prevailing floods and measures taken by the state government to deal with the situation.

The central team headed by Union Home Ministry's joint secretary V Shashanka Sekhar arrived in Guwahati to assess the recent flood situation and erosion affected areas of the state.

The chief secretary highlighted the need to strengthen the 5,000 km long embankments, improve road communication and to chalk out a permanent solution to the flood and erosion problems in the state to the visiting officials.

Pipersenia also referred to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal's recent meeting with the Prime Minister in New Delhi where he submitted a memorandum highlighting the flood and erosion situation in the state and sought the Centre's intervention for mitigating the situation.

This is for the first time an inter-ministerial central team is visiting the state in the midst of flood to assess the damage which signifies the urgent follow-up action taken by the Centre, an official said.