Assam floods affect nearly 90,000 people; Brahmaputra above danger mark

Guwahati: Nearly 90,000 people have been affected in the latest wave of floods across seven districts in Assam.Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) sources said more than 88,000 people are reeling under flood in 257 villages across Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Nagaon, Jorhat, Golaghat, Morigaon and Biswanath districts.Currently, Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and Tezpur in Sonitpur districts, Subansiri at Badatighat in Lakhimpur, Dikhow at Sivasagar, Dhansiri at Golaghat town and Numaligarh in Golaghat and Jia Bharali at NT road crossing in Sonitpur, ASDMA said.[caption id="attachment_2875598" align="alignleft" width="380"] Villagers travel by boats in a flooded village near Kaziranga National Park, Assam. PTI.[/caption]Authorities have also opened seven relief camps in Lakhimpur district. More than 6,000 hectares of crop have been damaged in these districts.Meanwhile, flood waters inundated a CRPF camp in Jorhat, while erosion by Dhansiri river has been reported from Golaghat.Flood waters also entered the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary — the world's most dense habitat of one-horned rhinos.Forest officials said more than 70 percent areas of the sanctuary are presently under water, forcing wild animals to go to high land.A Defence spokesperson said the Army is closely monitoring the current flood situation and the levels of rising water in Brahmaputra."The Army flood relief columns are in a state of full readiness to be deployed for flood relief action as and when required in any of the affected areas," he added.