Assam floods: Central team to assess damage, toll 88

Guwahati, July 4 (IANS) A central team is arriving in Assam to assess the damage from the recent floods that have killed 88 persons besides rendering lakhs homeless, a state government official said Wednesday.

"The central team will come to the state for detailed assessment after the state submits a full-fledged memorandum to the central government on the total damage caused by floods in Assam," a senior revenue department official told IANS.

The floods, since June 22, have affected all 27 districts of the state and submerged huge tracts of land, including crop land.

A total of 16 persons have died owing to landslides in the past three weeks and 15 more persons are reported missing in the flood affected districts.

According to the State Disaster Management Authority, close to 400,000 people are living in temporary relief camps set up by various district administrations.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party president Sonia Gandhi made an aerial survey of flood affected areas Monday, and also announced an immeiate relief package of Rs.500 crore.

The prime minister had assured more financial help after a complete assessment to be conducted by a central team.

"We are awaiting detailed reports of assessment from each district to be compiled by the respective Deputy Commissioners (DC)," the official said.

The state government can only submit the memorandum to the centre after compiling all the reports of the district officials.

"The flood waters have started to recede in most of the districts. However, large portions of lands are still submerged, so it would take some time to get the DCs' reports," said the official.

As per state government reports, the Brahmaputra river is flowing above danger levels, but with a receding trend, in Nimatighat (Jorhat), Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Guwahati, Dhubri and Goalpara districts.

The Kuchiara, Katakhal and Barak rivers in Assam's Barak Valley were similarly flowing above danger levels but with a receding trend.