• Assam: Flood situation worsens; 19 districts affected

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    Assam: Flood situation worsens; 19 districts affected

    The flood situation in Assam remains critical, and the situation has worsened in the last 24 hours...


    Digital Desk: The flood situation in Assam remains critical, and the situation has worsened in the last 24 hours, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).


    According to the ASDMA bulletin issued on Tuesday, the first wave of floods has affected an additional 3,000 people in the state, increasing the total number of flood-affected people to 34,089. The total number of flood-affected districts and subdivisions in Assam has climbed from 18 to 19.


    The flood situation in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, and Udalguri, which share a border with Bhutan, is also critical.


    The Royal Government of Bhutan issued a weather advisory on Tuesday, predicting heavier rainfall in isolated areas of Bhutan over the next several days, which may result in rising water levels in the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries in Assam.


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    The Royal Government of Bhutan's weather advisory states that over the next two to three days, isolated sections of Bhutan will likely have cloudy weather with light to moderate rainfall.


    In light of this, the ASDMA has warned people in Assam's riverine areas to be prepared with emergency supplies and to avoid entering rising waters during this period.


    The ASDMA has also advised against unnecessary activities such as fishing, collecting firewood, swimming, or crossing rivers during these days.


    The link between rising water levels, floods, and the release of water from Bhutan's Kurichhu Dam has prompted alarm among the people of western Assam districts.


    However, the ASDMA noted that the dam's release of water is not completely responsible for the flood situation in western Assam but is also a result of continuous rainfall in both Bhutan and Assam's upper catchment areas.


    Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for heavy to extremely heavy rainfall, with extremely heavy rain anticipated in isolated areas of Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baksa, Barpeta, and Bongaigaon districts till Wednesday morning.


    According to a report from the Central Water Commission (CWC), nine rivers in the state are flowing above normal levels. The Puthimari River has been extensively flooded, and the Pagladiya and Sankosh Rivers in western Assam are also severely flooded.


    Lakhimpur is the district most hit by the floods, with 22,061 people affected, followed by Dibrugarh, which has 3,857 affected people.


    According to the ASDM bulletin, the first wave of flood has affected 5.842.78 hectares of cropland. The number of operational aid camps remains at 25, with 14 active in Lakhimpur.