24 dead in Bihar, 15 in Assam due to flood
Relief and rescue operations intensified in affected areas
WEB DESK / AGENCIES
The flood situation in Assam and Bihar has further worsened with more areas submerged in water and more reports of deaths are coming.
In Assam flood water has now submerged 30 of the 33 districts of the state, with 43 lakh people affected.
Four persons have lost their lives in the last 24 hours, taking the death toll to 15. Ninety per cent of the Kaziranga national park has been submerged. Rescue and relief measures have been intensified by various agencies.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited Nalbari and Barpeta districts and reviewed the situation.
Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat will undertake an aerial survey in Upper Assam today. He will also hold a review meeting with ministers and officials in Guwahati.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with the Assam Chief Minister on Monday. He assured all help and co-operation to the state. Mr Sonowal briefed the Prime Minister on the relief, rescue and rehabilitation measures.
Other North Eastern states like Mizoram, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh are also facing the fury of floods following incessant rain over the last few days.
In Bihar, the death toll due to floods mounted to 24 on Monday. Over 25 lakh people are reeling from the deluge in 12 districts following incessant rains in neighbouring country Nepal.
Baghmati, Kamla Balan, Lalbakeya, Adhwara and Mahananda rivers are flowing above the danger level at various places.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar undertook an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas. The Disaster Management Department report said, 26 teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force have been deployed for relief and rescue operations in the affected districts.