India’s Assam flood situation worsens as death toll rises to 31

NEW DELHI: The ongoing flood situation in India’s northeastern state of Assam continues to worsen and so far has claimed 31 lives, officials said Wednesday.

According to police on Tuesday night, a landslide triggered by rains killed five people, including a minor, in the Badarpur area of Karimganj district about 281 km southeast of Guwahati, the main city of Assam.

Officials said the victims were identified as a 55-year-old woman and her three daughters aged 18, 16 and 11. The body of a three-year-old baby boy was also retrieved from the debris.

Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said the floods have affected a population of 161,209 in 15 districts batting the inundation.

Karimganj is the worst affected district with 152,133 people reeling under floodwaters.

It has also affected a crop area of 1,378.64 hectares in the affected districts.

“Currently, 470 villages across 28 revenue circles are submerged in water,” ASDMA said.

The local government has opened 43 relief camps and distribution centers in the affected areas and the majority of them have been set up in Karimganj.

Officials said the relief efforts were underway, with 5,114 people taking shelter in 43 relief camps.

Officials said the extent of damage to infrastructure, including embankments, roads and bridges, has added to the difficulties in providing aid and assistance to the affected population.

The flooding hit the twin states of Assam and Manipur following heavy rains in the aftermath of cyclone Remal which made landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh last month.

-Xinhua