Assam flood toll reaches 34 and 31 people die in lightning strike, in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar

Dispur: – The Brahmaputra river has crossed danger levels, due to incessant rain aggravating the flood situation in Assam. The toll in these floods has reached 34 and the floods have hit more than 1.6 million people from 22 districts. A whopping 72,717 hectares of crops has been wiped out. At the same time, 31 people have reportedly died in the lightning strikes in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.

There are heavy rains in Assam since the last one week. The flood threat has increased because of the of rising water levels in the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries. More than 2,000 villages from 22 districts have been submerged. The Barpeta district in Assam is the worst hit, where more than 850,000 people have bee displaced. All these people are being moved to the 163 relief camps of the Assam government. In the last 24 hours, the Disaster Management Unit and the administration have moved 2,852 people to safe places.

Rescue operations are in full swing. But the Coronavirus pandemic is creating obstacles in the rescue work. Kaziranga and Pobitora wildlife sanctuaries are submerged. 26 animals from the sanctuaries have died in the floods. Whereas, thousands of animals are being provided safe shelters. The weather bureau has predicted that the situation will remain the same for the next few days in Assam.

Meanwhile, 26 people were killed in Bihar, on Thursday, in an accident caused by incessant rain and lightning strike. Union Home Minister Amit Shah expressed grief over the incident. The Home Minister informed that the rescue work has been started by the local administration and the Disaster Management Unit. In the last one week, 100 people have been killed in lightning strikes, in Bihar. A few days ago, Bihar had been cordoned off by floods. The rains are continuing with a looming threat of floods. Five people were killed and 12 were injured, in Uttar Pradesh, in lightning strikes.