No let up in rain, floods hit thousands... The meteorological office warned of rain over the next 24 hours in Assam and its neighbouring states

Children stand on the bank of the Brahmaputra under an umbrella as dark clouds cover the Guwahati skyline on Saturday. (PTI)

Rokibuz Zaman, TT, 24.05.20, Guwahati: Thousands were affected in Assam on the second day of the first wave of floods following continuous rainfall and recent release of dam water.

An Assam State Disaster Management Authority bulletin on Saturday evening said the floods have hit altogether 2,980 people of Kalgachia revenue circle (630) in Barpeta district of lower Assam and North Lakhimpur revenue circle (2,350) in Lakhimpur district of Upper Assam.

The meteorological office warned of rain over the next 24 hours in Assam and its neighbouring states.

The flood has hit the state when it is already grappling with a spike in Covid cases.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who was at Jonai in Dhemaji district on Saturday, directed all district administrations to take preparatory measures for floods and be ready to face all challenges in the fight against Covid-19.

Cyclone Amphan, after wreaking havoc in West Bengal and Odisha, has been lashing the state with heavy rainfall since Wednesday evening, As a result, many rivers in the state are overflowing. Release of water by Kurichu dam in neighbouring Bhutan on Thursday night and by Neepco’s Ranganadi project in the state on Friday has worsened the situation.

The Beki, which was flowing at 43.61m, 2.31m above its danger level on Friday, receded on Saturday to flow below the danger level. However, the Brahmaputra was flowing above the danger level in Barpeta district, the Puthimari in Kamrup, the Jia Bharali in Sonitpur district and the Noona in Nalbari district.

In Nagaon district, the rising waters of the Borpani breached the embankment at Pamila Jarani.

In Lakhimpur district, a bridge collapsed in Subansiri revenue circle while two bamboo bridges got washed away in North Lakhimpur revenue circle following incessant rain. North Lakhimpur received 25.2 mm rainfall from 8am on Friday till 8am on Saturday.

In Baksa district of lower Assam, a culvert got breached.

In Sonitpur district, the right bank of the Brahmaputra got eroded at Kalibari Rajah Sahar under Tezpur revenue circle.

Three subdivisions of Tinsukia district, Margherita, Sadiya and Doomdooma, also faced the threat of floods following heavy rainfall. The water level of the Brahmaputra, Nadihing, Kundil, Doomdooma, Burhi Dihing and Tirap were rising.

An official said if there is no let-up in rain in the coming days, the rivers would flow above their danger levels and submerge large areas.

“We are fully prepared to meet any situation,” a district administration official said.

In Lakhimpur and Nagaon districts, cropland was affected in 30 villages.