8 washed away in Assam flash floods

At least eight people, including four of a family, were washed away and Assam-Arunachal Pradesh surface links disrupted by flash floods in Assam's Dhemaji district on Monday.

The eight were washed away at Sisibargaon by swollen waters of Gainadi, a major tributary of Brahmaputra river, following torrential rains in its upper reaches of Arunachal Pradesh, official sources said.

The rising water level swept away a family of four – a couple and their two children-- who had climbed a tree to save themselves, the sources said adding a search operation was on to trace them.

The flash floods inundated 35 villages in Sisibargaon revenue circle where houses were submerged under 5-feet water, the sources said.

A portion of a railway bridge on Rangiya-Murkongselek metre-gauge track was washed away by the surging waters leading to suspension of train services. Gainadi has submerged NH-52 disrupting road communication to Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, the sources added.