Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam turned critical today with the water level of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries rising alarmingly in Upper and Central Assam districts.
The rivers were overflowing in the districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sonitpur, Nagaon, Morigaon and Dibrugarh following heavy rainfall in both Assam and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, an official report said.
The Kaziranga National Park and the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary were also heavily flooded forcing hapless animals to move to highlands to protect themselves.
The situation in Majuli, the world's largest river island, was also grim with the Brahmaputra flowing above danger mark.
The current wave of flood has claimed the life of a child in Lakhimpur district.
In the Kaziranga National Park, famed for its one-horned rhino, the water of the Brahmaputra has inundated almost 70 per cent of the area. The animals moved to the highlands in the neighbouring Karbi Anglong district, KNP DFO S K Seal Sarmah said.
“Water has entered 50 camps across the sanctuary and three camps have been evacuated in the Northern range,” he said.
The animals migrated to the highland across NH-37 and to check speeding vehicles from running them over, barricades have been set up and time-cards introduced to control the speed of the vehicles, Seal Sarmah said.
Vast areas of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Central Assam's Morigaon district also lay inundated as the bewildered animals made desperate attempts to get to safety, forest officials said.
In Majuli in Jorhat district, 45 villages are under flood waters following continuous rainfall and rising water of the Brahmaputra.
Vast areas of the river island and its gateways Neematighat and Jhanjimukh were inundated since the last two days, Majuli Sub-Divisional Officer Laya Maduri said.
In Lakhimpur, nearly one lakh people in seven circles have been affected in six revenue circles of Dhakuakhona, Naoboicha, Bihpuria, Narayanpur, North Lakhimpur and Subansiri by the rising water of the Ranganadi, Deputy Commissioner Gaurav Bothra said.
In Dhemaji district, more than 70 villages are submerged by flood waters of the Brahmaputra and one relief camp has been opened there by the district administration, according to an official report.
In Sonitpur district, the rising water affected three panchayats - Bordoloni, Botamuli and Paken - under Gohpur sub division.
In Morigaon district, the flood situation turned grim today with flood waters inundating 25 villages, leaving over 2,000 people affected.
In Nagaon district, several villages under Kalaibor sub-division have been severely affected with the civil administration along with the Army evacuating 145 civilians including 55 women and 60 children to a relief camp and providing them with first aid and relief material.
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