There seems to be no respite from floods in Assam, as the Brahmaputra and its a few tributaries are maintaining a rising trend affecting over 1 lakh people in seven districts of the state.
The water level of Brahmaputra River at Guwahati D C Court was measured at 49.71 meters on Thursday morning. This exceeds the danger level of 49.68 meters, but is below the previous highest flood level of 51.46 meters recorded in 2004. It is expected to fall to 49.65 meters by Friday morning.
Flood waters affected over 6,000 hectare of crop land and the district administration has set up seven relief camps in worst hit Lakhimpur district and relief materials are being distributed.
Nearly 100 villages have been inundated. Flood water also submerged 1,500 hectares of crop land. Apart from flood, erosion also took serious turn in many districts.
Boats have been pressed into services at Morigaon district to rescue marooned people.
Flood waters also entered the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's densest habitat of one-horned rhinos. Forest officials said more than 70 per cent areas of the sanctuary are presently under water, forcing wild animals to go to high land.
A defence spokesperson said the army is closely monitoring the current flood situation and the levels of rising water in Brahmaputra.
"The army flood relief columns are in a state of full readiness to be deployed for flood relief action as and when required in any of the affected areas," he added.
"Floods are taking place mostly due to rainfall in flood prone areas such as near Brahmaputra in Assam. Apart from that maybe urban floods can be expected due to lack of drainage, but reservoirs across the country are at very low levels and it will take some time for them to be replenished," said D S Pai, head of long-range forecasting division at IMD.
State Water Resource Minister Keshab Mahanta said that although most of the breaches caused by the Brahmaputra and its tributaries last year had been repaired, the state government needed to pay the contractors.
The government is looking at the Centre to release a sum of Rs 1,800 crore that has been due to the state since the 2015 floods.
"It will be difficult to ask them to carry out emergency repairs in the event of a major flood if their bills for last year’s work are not cleared," the minister said.
