Assam flood scene on Wednesday turned worse as the state reported first death this year because of the rising water level, which has affected over 2.71 lakh population in 11 districts amid spikes in Covid-19 cases, adding to Dispur’s worry.

The death was reported at Rongjuli in lower Assam’s Goalpara district.

On the sixth day (Wednesday) of the first wave floods, 2,71,655 people have been affected of whom 16,720 are taking shelter in 57 relief camps.

A total of 2,678 hectares of crop lands are submerged.

According to an Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin issued on Wednesday evening, 321 villages in 21 revenue circles have been affected and most affected people are in Goalpara where 16,037 people have moved to relief camps that officials claimed were opened following the Covid-19 protocols.

In West Karbi-Anglong, one revenue circle has been affected, in Hojai two, Barpeta one and Nagoan one.

These districts were added on Wednesday to the list of seven districts already inundated which include Lakhimpur where two revenue circles have been affected, in Goalpara three, one each in Dibrugarh and Dhemaji, five in Nalbari and two in Tinsukia and Darrang districts.

In Dima Hasao district, landslides hit four villages where 18 houses were fully damaged and 12 partially affecting over 72 people.

On Monday, more than 30,000 were affected.

The Jia Bharali is flowing above the danger level in Sonitpur district, the Puthimari in Kamrup and the Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at Neematighat.

Floods have affected over 50,000 domestic animals and poultry and damaged over 157 roads under the PWD in these districts.

CM reviews scene

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday reviewed flood situation in the state at a meeting with the ASDMA and top officials of other departments here.

Sonowal directed for ensuring all Covid-19 protocols like social distancing, hand washing and wearing of masks at the flood relief camps so that community spread of Covid-19 cases can be contained during the flood season.

Issuing instructions to deputy commissioners of all districts to keep soap and water for hand washing, masks for inmates while properly sanitising the flood relief camps, Sonowal directed the district administrations to ensure that no irregularities take place while distributing relief materials.

He also directed the power department to take necessary measures to prevent incidences of electrocution in the flood-affected areas.

An amount of Rs 386 crore has been released by the Centre as the first instalment this year to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).

Embankment damage: In Golaghat district, a breach occurred at Cheek bund at Dhansiri Temera (Elengmari).

In Barpeta, the Panchayat bund at the Buradia river was damaged in two places. The Ring bund at Pithadi Pam village in the district broke and the Kaldia breached in two points. A newly constructed road at Kalatali Botia was also damaged. In Nalbari, the Burhadia river damaged embankments at Uttar Amoni near Krishna Guru Ashram and Pokhura village.

Landslide: Train services were restored on the Lumding-Haflong section of the NFR on Wednesday. Nearly 5,000 passengers of three Sharmik Special trains were stranded on Tuesday night following heavy rain and landslides.

Additional reporting by Satananda Bhattacharjee in Hailakandi