Source: The Sangai Express
Guwahati, October 08:
Heavy rains and landslides continued to batter Assam, where army was called out for rescue operations, Meghalaya and West Bengal claiming another21 lives today and pushing the dead count to 36.Assam was the worst-hit of the three States as 11 more people perished as the Army with rubber boats swung into rescue of marooned people in the state capital which remained paralyzed by downpours for the third consecutive day.
Landslides killed another six persons at Dhirenpara in Fatashil Ambari, three in Jorabat on the Guwahati-Shillong Road, two in Jyotinagar area and injured eight in Red Cross locality in Chandmari, official sources said.
Yesterday, in Odalbakra area in Guwahati six persons, were killed and eleven injured in landslides.
Kamrup (Metropolitan) Deputy Commissioner AK Absar Hazarika told PIT that the army had been deployed in Anil Nagar, Nabin Nagar, Tarun Nagar, GS Road and RG Baruah Road.
The situation in Guwahati city was grim with almost all localities, including the State Secretariat and Assembly in Dispur, under water.
There was no electricity in the Doordarshan Kendra since yesterday as its powerhouse and the complex was inundated.
The Doordarshan authorities were forced to cancel its programmes, including the news bulletin this morning, DD officials said.
Water entered the premises of North East Television, a local channel, also but the programmes were being telecast with a skeleton staff, a channel spokesman said.
Attendance in offices was thin and most schools and colleges of the city were closed, official sources said.
Regional Meteorological Office Director D N Sinha told PTI "heavy to very heavy rainfall" would occur at most of the places in the region during next 24 hours from 0800 hrs today.
He said in Assam the highest rainfall of 223.6 mm was recorded at Goalpara followed by 147.2 mm in Dhubri, 140 mm in Dharamtul, 133 mm in Barpeta and 117.8 mm in Guwahati.
In Meghalaya five persons lost their lives in rains and landslides while property and standing corps worth crores of rupees were lost and road communication disrupted in the incessant downpour in Meghalaya.
One person was killed in Malki-Dhankheti area of the city last night while another woman lost her life in landslides at Lawsohtun, according to East Khasi Hills District Deputy Commissioner DP Wahalang.
Two labourers were swept away from the Sadolpara as they were working on the Pradhan mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, while another person was drowned in Rongai river yesterday, S Jagannathan, Deputy Commissioner of West Garo Hills district, said.