Guwahati: The second wave of flood in Assam along with some parts of northeast India remains grim as many villages continue to be inundated by muddy water in 29 districts of the State thanks to the inflated mighty Brahmaputra river and its tributaries. According to the State disaster management authority, over 16 lakh people residing in more than 2200 villages are affected by the deluge and at least 43 people died in the natural disaster. Besides Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram are also witnessing incessant rainfall and subsequent floods.

Monsoon Weather Today Live Updates: Villagers wade through a flood affected area, at Mayong village in Morigaon district. (PTI Photo)

The residents of Lakhimpur, Darrang, Golaghat, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Chirang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kamrup (metropolitan), Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri districts are facing major flood related difficulties and thousands of families had to shift to temporary relief camps set up by the administration. The flood water inundated more than 43000 hectares of crop area, destroyed a number of embankments, roads & bridges and other infrastructures, as well as devastated 8,50,000 livestock and poultry in the State.

Villagers row a makeshift raft through a flooded field to reach a safer place at the flood-affected Mayong village in Morigaon district, in the northeastern state of Assam, India on 29 June.Reuters

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma continues visiting flood-affected areas to review the situation. Recently, he also assessed the flood preparedness at Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in eastern Assam. Till date, 17 animals died of flood related incidents. The world heritage site, which eventually experiences flooding every year, witnesses most of the forest camps inundated by river water from Brahmaputra on the northern border. Once the water level increases inside the park, the animals including the one-horned rhinos cross the National Highway-715 on its southern border and climb the hilly areas of East Karbi Anglong district for safer places. As many inmates die while crossing the highway by speeding vehicles, the authorities instructed the drivers to maintain the safe speed limit. Now the vehicles are escorted by the forest officials while crossing the park to avoid any accidents with the fleeing animals.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured full cooperation to the State government in dealing with the disaster. Talking to CM Sarma, PM Modi enquired about the current flood situation and assured all possible support from the Centre in the time of crisis. Union home minister Amit Shah also called Sarma over the crisis. Sarma already directed the State ministers, legislators and concerned officials to monitor the situation closely and take necessary initiatives.

State water resources minister Pijush Hazarika along with ministers Bimal Bora, Ranoj Pegu, Jayanta Mallaburuah, Jogen Mahan, Keshav Mahanta, Ranjit Das also visited the affected villages and reviewed the rescue and relief operations. Representatives of various civil societies, volunteers of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh from its units extended necessary supports to the flood affected families in different localities with systemic approaches.