Still at sea8230;

At least three districts of upper Assam 8212; Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Dhemaji 8212; were affected and the Indian Air Force engaged helicopters to rescue the marooned.

Deaths due to water-borne diseases have also been reported. At least five children of Birsing Char area in South Salmara division of Dhubri died of water-borne diseases.

The Army has been called to rescue marooned people in Tinsukia as the gushing water inundated at least 50 villages. Guijan area in the district has been seriously affected with nearly a lakh being rendered homeless by the Guijan river.

PATNA: There was no let up in the overall flood situation in Bihar on Monday with major rivers still flowing above the danger mark. Relief measures were stepped up for the flood-hit people in 17 districts of the state.

State Relief and Rehabilitation Department sources said nearly 12 million people continued to reel under the impact of the floods. Around 86 people had so far lost their lives in floods in Bihar. Train services have come to a halt on the Khagaria-Samastipur section of East-Central Railway with waters submerging the tracks. Swirling waters of Bagmati and Karesh rivers entered Khagaria following a breach in the embankment near Bithan in Samastipur district, official sources said.

CM Rabri Devi has asked district officials to intensify the relief work with the help of Army personnel.

Tripura landlocked; Meghalaya wants aid

AGARTALA: Tripura continued to remain cut off from the rest of the country since July 9 due to landslides caused by incessant rains, official sources said on Monday. A senior official of the Border Road Task Force, which looks after NH 44 linking Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura, said the road was opened to traffic after clearing debris on July 16 but heavy rains had again caused landslides in several parts of Sonarpur in Meghalaya stopping vehicular movement.

NH 44 is the only road link between landlocked Tripura and the rest of the country. Landslides have led to suspension in bus services.

SHILLONG: Meghalaya will ask for Central assistance of a minimum Rs 100 crore to take up relief and rehabilitation measures for flood-affected Garo Hill areas. Labour, Sericulture and Weaving Minister Sayeedullah Nongrum will meet Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil to place the demand.

ITANAGAR: The flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh continued to be alarming on Monday with over 500 people rescued by rubber boats from the embankment of the swollen Siang river in East Siang district. Bridges and roads in the Mebo Circle were badly damaged as water submerged 10 villages and half of the district headquarters town of Pasighat. Over 1.5 lakh people have been affected in the floods which have left 10 dead.

AIZAWL: Many parts of Mizoram were cut off on Monday and communication and power supply disrupted due to heavy rains resulting in landslides, official sources said. Several houses in some areas, including parts of Aizawl, were vacated fearing damage. Landslides also snapped the district of Mamit from the rest of the state.

8212; ENS 038; PTI