1.16 lakh move to Assam relief camps

The Assam flood situation showed signs of improvement on Friday with the intensity of rains lessening in the catchment areas as well as across the state. But the Brahmaputra continued to flow above the danger level all along its 800-km route from Sadiya in the east to Dhubri in the west.

Meanwhile, the state Government pegged the total number of people affected by the floods at 63.51 lakh. The death toll rose to 23 with three more deaths occurring in Nalbari, Barpeta and Dhubri. Over 1.16 lakh people, including 50,000 children, were living in 523 relief camps set up by the Government. A large number of people were also in relief camps established by NGOs and locals.

The total area inundated by the current floods has been worked out to 8.08 lakh hectares, of which crop area comprised about 3.45 hectares, sources said. The number of houses damaged has been stated as 1,285. The Government has extended the summer holidays of schools in flood-affected districts by another week. The schools were to reopen on Monday.