Floods kill 16, affect 11 lakh in Assam, Meghalaya
What's the story
Floods have wreaked havoc in Assam and Meghalaya, killing at least 16 people as water levels in key rivers are on the rise. Constant rains also caused landslides in numerous parts of the two states. According to authorities, the floods have affected at least 11 lakh people in 25 districts. The newly constituted Bajali district of Assam took the maximum brunt of the damage.
Impact
Over 1,500 villages submerged in flood waters in Assam
Water levels in the Brahmaputra and Gauranga rivers, according to officials, were above the danger limits in numerous regions. According to them, flood waters have inundated 19,782.80 hectares of agricultural land in flood-affected regions, whereas 1,510 villages are now submerged. The administrations of flood-affected regions have issued warnings to residents not to leave their homes.
Guwahati
Activities in Guwahati come to a halt
For the third day in a row, much of Guwahati has come to a halt owing to the flooding. Several landslides have also been recorded in the Assam capital city. Three people were also hurt in Ajantanagar's Noonmati neighborhood. Meanwhile, a portion of a bridge fell in the Subankhata region of the Baksa district on Wednesday due to heavy rains.
Railways
Train services badly affected in lower Assam
Following waterlogging on the railway tracks between Nalbari and Ghograpar of the Rangiya division in Lower Assam, at least six trains have been canceled, with four partly canceled. Meanwhile, Bollywood actor Arjun Kapoor and filmmaker Rohit Shetty donated Rs. 5 lakh to the CM Relief Fund for flood-affected persons in Assam after which CM Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked them for their generosity.
Details
Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh also affected
Exceptionally heavy rains have disrupted regular living in Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh, too, apart from Assam. According to authorities, at least 13 people have been killed in Meghalaya and three in Assam as a result of landslides, lightning, and flash floods. The state government of Meghalaya has created four committees to investigate four regions of the state.
Warning
Weather department issues red alert for the weekend
As per NDTV, National Highway 6 has been blocked for heavy traffic after sections of the road collapsed and were swept away. Tripura, southern Assam, Mizoram, and portions of Meghalaya rely on this route for survival. Notably, both Assam and Meghalaya experienced 272mm more rainfall than average until Wednesday. India Meteorological Department (IMD) has extended the red alert in both states for the weekend.