The flood situation remained grim in Assam on Monday amid the ongoing lockdown as heavy rain in most parts of the state has affected over 30,000 people in five districts.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin issued on Monday evening, 127 villages in eight revenue circles have been affected — in Lakhimpur (3), Goalpara (2), Dibrugarh (1), Dhemaji (1) and Darrang (1) districts.

It is the fourth day of the first wave floods in Assam in which altogether 30,701 people are affected. Altogether 8,941 inmates are taking shelter in 33 relief camps.

The Jia Bharali is flowing above the danger level in Sonitpur district and Puthimari at NT Road crossing in Kamrup district.

Floods have affected 12,054 domestic animals and poultry and damages to roads and erosion of embankments have been reported from the affected districts.

Due to incessant rain for the last four days in Assam, unexpected floods occurred in Lakhipur revenue circle in Goalpara district. Waterlogging in the low-lying areas of Lakhipur took place due to hilly areas of North Garo Hills district in Meghalaya.

Goalpara deputy commissioner Varnali Deka said: “Around 22,000 people are affected in Balijana and Lakhipur revenue circles so far in the district and relief distribution started from Sunday. The affected people are kept in the relief camps maintaining social distance and also provided sanitisers and masks. All are asked to follow the Covid-19 guidelines and this time limited number of people are being housed in the camps.”

However, Bishwajit Das, a resident of Goalpara, said social distancing was not ensured in the relief camps.

Das said: “The Jinari river’s embankment was damaged in 2004 at Bolbola. After that people of the area have been witnessing floods. Now the people took shelter on National Highway 37. Without maintaining social-distancing norms they constructed their makeshift house on the highway during the ongoing lockdown,” Das said.

A portion of the Agia-Lakhipur state highway 12 (nearly 40km) in Lakhipur under Goalpara district has been washed away in flash floods on Sunday.

Ajit Rabha,25, a local, said the portion was washed away because a culvert was used instead of a bridge.

“After the Lok Sabha elections in 2019, the PWD reconstructed the road from Agia to Lakhipur in Goalpara district. Villagers urged the department to use an RCC bridge instead of a culvert,” said Rabha.

A team of the 1st Battalion NDRF reached the site and evacuated 18 marooned villagers and transported them to safer places.

Two search and rescue teams of 1st Battalion NDRF are deployed in Bongaigaon and Jorhat. Two teams are deployed in Barpeta and Cachar. Besides the NDRF is keeping a close watch in other affected areas. The SDRF also rescued 438 people marooned due to flash floods in parts of Goalpara. The first wave of floods hit Assam on Friday following over 48 hours of torrential rain and release of excess water from dams.

Bridge washed away: The bamboo bridge on the Gela-beel river in Golaghat district was washed away on Sunday.

Additional reporting by Sanjoy Hazarika in Bokakhat