AIUDF leader Badruddin Ajmal visits a flood affected area in Dhubri district on Thursday. Picture by UB Photos

Dhubri, June 14: The flash floods that have inundated the catchment areas of lower Assam along the Indo-Bhutan border swept away a 12-year-old boy, Babul Das, in Baksa district last night.

Incessant rain for 11 days has flooded almost all the catchment areas of the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra such as the Ai, the Beki, the Manas, the Gaurang, the Ganagdhar, the Champabati, the Tipkai and the Sankosh. The rivers are rising with many flowing just below the danger level.

The floods have inundated at least 200 villages, damaging crops and homesteads, in Baksa, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Barpeta and Nalbari districts. The damages are being assessed, officials said.

Pulin Das of Sarthebari in Barpeta district said the flood, aggravated by the heavy downpur, had damaged his homestead and standing crops. But the government had not come forth with any relief or rescue operation. The water is receding now, he added.

Dwijen Roy of Bijni circle in Chirang district said many villagers had taken shelter on higher ground. He, too, said the government had not provided any relief so far.

Barpeta deputy commissioner Siddhartha Singh said some parts of Sarthebari and Pathsala areas under Bajali subdivision were inundated but the situation was not alarming. “We have taken preventive steps and sounded an alert with the emergency control room for disaster management. We have also taken steps to strengthen the major embankments in areas like Bhawanipur and Manikpur.”

Chirang deputy commissioner Upendra Nath Boro said villages in the Bijni circle had been inundated. “I have sent the circle officer and mondals (land and revenue officials) to the affected areas to assess the situation.”

He said apart from the flood, a devastating storm had left a trail of devastation in the district. He said relief had been provided to the affected families and the administration was collecting details of the damages for rehabilitation of and relief for the victims.

Bongaigaon deputy commissioner Santanu P. Gutmare said though rivers in the district were rising, there were no reports of villages being inundated.

“North Salmara is flood-prone but there have been no reports of inundation from any part of the subdivision either. However, we are keeping a watch as the rivers are rising and we are fully prepared to meet any eventuality,” he said.

The Brahmaputra is also rising in Dhubri district. It is flowing at 27.62m, a metre below the danger level of 28.62m.

Dhubri additional deputy commissioner Nurul Amin Laskar said they had held meetings and officials had been instructed to monitor the situation.