Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 1 (HBTV): Eight people have lost their lives due to flash floods and landslides in Assam over the past 24 hours, according to officials from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).

The ASDMA reported that three people died in flood-related incidents while five others perished in landslides. ‘Two people, including a child, died due to flooding in Golaghat district, and one person drowned in Lakhimpur district,’ the ASDMA stated. Additionally, five deaths and two injuries were reported due to landslides in Kamrup (Metro) district.

Heavy and continuous rainfall across Assam and neighbouring states has triggered the first wave of floods in the state. A total of 175 villages under 20 revenue circles in 12 districts—Dhemaji, South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Biswanath, Tinsukia, and Karbi Anglong West—have been affected.

According to the ASDMA, 58,091 people across these districts have been impacted by the flooding. Floodwaters have submerged 791.32 hectares of cropland. Nearly 7,000 displaced individuals are currently taking shelter in 16 relief camps and relief distribution centres set up by district authorities.

The floods have also caused significant damage to livestock and infrastructure. While 75,918 animals have been affected, 194 have been washed away. In the last 24 hours, 22 roads and one bridge have been damaged, three embankments breached, and four others damaged. Irrigation canals, school buildings, and Anganwadi centres have also been impacted.

Rescue and relief operations are being carried out by the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and local administration teams.

Urban flooding has also been reported in several districts, with 9,865 people affected in Kamrup, Dibrugarh, Darrang, Cachar, and Kamrup (Metro).

On Saturday, Assam Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah visited flood-affected areas in Guwahati to assess the situation and review emergency measures. His inspection covered critical zones including Juripar, the inundated stretch from Basistha Chariali to Balughat along the National Highway, areas near Excel Care Hospital, Pandu Temple Ghat, Kamakhya Foothills, B Baruah Road, GS Road, the area behind the AGP Office in Ambari, Pibco Point, Rukminigaon, and Rukmininagar.

Minister Baruah told the media that many of these localities act as basins, collecting runoff water from nearby hills. He added that two major drainage channels are currently under construction to divert floodwaters and mitigate future flooding.

(ANI)