NEW DELHI: The flood situation in Assam, where two more people were killed on Sunday, and Bihar remained grim, while the death toll in lightning strikes in Odisha in the last 24 hours climbed from 32 to 45, taking the overall number of casualties to 74.
In Assam, 29 people have so far died as more than 16 lakh people remain affected in 21 districts. About 150 rural roads have been damaged, and 1.47 lakh people are forced to live in 310 relief camps. So far, 1,729 people have been rescued. Rain and thundershowers are likely in Assam in the next 24 hours.
After union home minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the state on Saturday, former chief minister and AGP functionary Prafulla Kumar Mahanta accused the BJP-led Centre of having failed to deal with the crisis. AGP is a government ally in Assam’s BJP-led government. Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal said that a committee to avert breaches in any embankment in flood-hit Assam would be set up.
Floodwaters in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park started receding on Sunday, uncovering several more carcasses of animals.
At least 198 animals, including 16 rhinos, have so far died. About half of the park’s 430-sq km area is still under water.
In Bihar, the situation in four districts of Purnia division hit by Mahananda, Bakra, Parman and Kosi rivers remained grim with 3 lakh people living in 415 relief camps. So far 26 people have died.
About 150 jawans of disaster response forces are conducting rescue and relief operations in Purnia.
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