Army called out to help Assam flood-hit

The Assam Government has asked the army to help in rescue and relief operations as the flood situation worsened across the state's 20 out of 24 districts.

Flood waters of the rampaging Brahmaputra inundated several parts of Guwahati on Saturday.

According to the Central Water Commission, the water level of Brahmaputra in the city was flowing 1.21 metres above the danger level.

Nearly 1.9 million people are reeling under the impact of swollen Brahmaputra. Sixteen people till now have lost their lives.

The army was pressed into service in Madarbari village of the worst affected Tamulpur revenue circle after the Pagladiya river changed its course and washed away 100 houses on Saturday.

The army, however, rescued all the people trapped in the houses and have sheltered them in a nearby school.

The situation was far more serious in Barkhetri revenue circle with the turbulent Brahmaputra totally wiping out two villages near Kopilabari.

The worst-affected Dhemaji district remained cut off from rest of the state.

The situation in neighbouring districts of Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia was also critical with vast areas inundated and the Brahmaputra and its tributaries maintaining a rising trend.

Large parts of Majuli island was submerged with large scale erosion being reported from several places.

The island remained cut-off from rest of the state as ferry services between Nematighat and Kamlabari remained suspended.

There was acute shortage of essential commodities in the island due to suspension of ferry service, sources said.

An army statement received said troops of the 181 brigade, under the supervision of Brigadier AK Gulati, have moved in with mechanised boats, relief materials and other equipments to rescue people marooned in about 100 villages.

Meanwhile, the Asom Gana Parishad has demanded that a central team visit the state to assess the devastation caused by the floods.