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Situation grim in Majuli

Sushanta Talukdar

Guwahati: The flood situation in Assam’s Majuli river island turned grim on Saturday with floodwaters submerging more areas due to heavy rain and rise in the level of the Brahmaputra.

The Brahmaputra and Barak and their tributaries were flowing above the danger level at seven places in the State.

The current wave of flood has affected nearly 8 lakh people in 13 districts.

As on Saturday, 31,350 people continued to take shelter in 131 relief camps.

12 lives lost

This year’s floods have so far claimed the lives of 12 persons and 4,149 head of cattle and affected 1 lakh hectares of cropped land.

In Majuli, which is already affected by erosion, the floodwaters have submerged 132 villages forcing thousands of islanders to take shelter on the embankments.

PM’s assurance

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his two-day recent visit to the State, had assured a delegation of ‘Sattradhikars’ (head of Vaishnavite monasteries) of the river island that the Centre would provide all assistance to protect the island.

Trains affected

The Northeast Frontier Railway cancelled, short-terminated and diverted several trains due to breach between Kalchini and Hasimara stations of the Alipurduar Junction-Siliguri section from Saturday to September 5.

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