2 dead, 5500 affected in fresh wave of floods in Assam

A fresh wave of flood hit the northern bank of Brahmaputra in Assam today claiming lives of at least two persons and affecting over 5,500 people in 20 villages. Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said one person died in Lakhimpur and Sonitpur districts each.

With this, the death toll in this year's flood in Assam has gone up to five -- two in Lakhimpur and one each in Bongaigaon, Baksa and Sonitpur districts.

ASDMA said over 5,500 people are affected as of now in 20 villages across Sonitpur, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts. Of them, 4,000 belonged to Lakhimpur.

Authorities have opened one relief camp in Sonitpur, where 75 people have taken shelter. 

Nearly 700 hectares of crop areas are under water currently, the report said. The flood waters have also damaged two roads and one bridge in Sonitpur district. The Brahmaputra is currently flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat in Jorhat and its tributary Beki at Road Bridge in Barpeta, ASDMA said.