Floods displace over one lakh in Assam

The rain-fed mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries flowing above the danger level across Assam have hit nearly one lakh people inundating human habitations and farm land in 10 districts with Dhemaji being the worst-hit. Incessant rainfall in the catchment areas of the state's upper reaches and neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh has raised the water level of the Brahmaputra throughout the state and it was flowing above the danger level at Nematighat in Jorhat, official sources said.

Its tributaries Jia Bharali at N T Road Crossing in Sonitpur district and Dhansiri at Numaligarh in Golaghat district were also flowing above the red mark.

The first wave of floods this season since June last has claimed so far one human life in Morigaon district besides an elephant and an antelope perished in Nagaon district near Kaziranga National Park in Golaghat district. The surging waters have flooded Dhemaji, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts affecting nearly one lakh people and rendered many homeless.

Severe erosion was also reported in many places along the fast flowing rivers washing away huge chunk of land, the sources said.