WHO Country Office in India SITUATION REPORT—ASSAM FLOODS, NORTH INDIA
WHO Country Office in India SITUATION REPORT—ASSAM FLOODS, NORTH INDIA NAME OF THE DISASTER: FLOODS DATE: 12.07.04 The state of Assam is experiencing its first phase of floods due to the incessant rains since the last week of June over Assam and the neighboring country Bhutan and states of Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, & Nagaland. From a total of 28 districts, so far 23 districts have been affected. The districts are Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Shivsagar, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nagoan, Morigaon, Kamrup, Kamrup Metro, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Berpetta, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Goalpara, Dhubri, Chirang, Karbi Anglong, Karimganj and Hailakhandi. Kamrup, Nalbari, Darrang, Sonitpur, Dhemaji and Lakhimpur are the most affected districts. This flood has caused widespread damage to human life and property, standing crops, flood control embankments and basic infrastructure. CURRENT SITUATION: • A vast area of human habitation is under water in the affected districts and people have taken shelter on the embankments. • 2,794 villages have so far been affected by the first phase of floods this year, affecting a population of 2 million (5 lakhs) approximately. • Damage to homes is significant, with approximately 14,320 houses washed away and 25,000 houses partially damaged. • The official estimate of loss of human lives is 13 to date. • The total crop area affected is estimated to be 4 lakh hectares. • Altogether, 58 breaches of embankment have taken place since April 2004, of which 24 major breaches have taken place during the month of July 2004. There is a threat of a few more fresh breaches on the embankment of the Brahmaputra river and its tributaries as the water level continues to rise.
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