Guwahati: A monsoon flood in Assam has inundated at least 21 of the 27 districts in the north-east state and affected over eight lakh people, officials said. The Brahmaputra River – one of the largest rivers in the world that cuts through Assam’s biggest city Guwahati – and five other rivers are flowing above the danger mark, officials said. Six people died due the floods.
The Army was called for assistance in Assam as the flood situation in the state worsened on Friday by affecting nearly 8.7 lakh people from 21 districts.
Floodwaters also entered Kaziranga National Park in Upper Assam – home of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros – forcing the animals to take shelter on platforms constructed for their safety during flood, officials said.
The water level of the Brahmaputra River flowing through Guwahati has crossed the warning mark. “Water has crossed warning level; it is still not at the danger level. In one to two days, it can cross danger level here too,” said V Gandhiya, Section Officer, Inland Waterways Authority
Amid the flood, Assam is also grappling with rising cases of encephalitis and the state government has cancelled the leaves of all health department employees till the end of September to deal with the outbreak.
