Assam And Manipur Floods: 48 People Killed And Over 16 Lakh Displaced, IMD Issues Red Alert

Heavy rainfall has ravged the regions of Northeast India and people are reeling under flood situation. At least 48 people have been killed and over 16 lakhs displaced.

Assam and Manipur Flood Updates: In sombre news, 48 people lost their lives amidst heavy floods in the Northeastern states of Assam and Manipur. The state disaster management authority told the media that at least 2,200 villages have been submerged in flood water. Over 16 lakh people have been displaced from their homes in at least 29 districts of Assam. The worst affected areas in Assam are Nagaon and Darrang in Central Assam and Karimganj in the Barak Valley. The state disaster management body also reported that nearly 2,850 people have been rescued from Assam by the state disaster force, the civil administration, the Indian Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) recently issues a 'red alert' for the entire Northeast region as they predict heavy rainfall in the next few days.

Alert Issued In Kamrup, Assam

Reports say that the rivers Brahmaputra, Digaru and Kollong are flowing above the red mark and an alert has been issued in the neighboring areas of Kamrup (Metro) district. The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma told the media that he will be visiting the affected areas in Maligaon, Temple Ghat and Pandu Port to asses the current situation.

Animal Deaths Due To Flood

Along with 48 deaths of humans, 17 wild animals also drowned in Kaziranga National Park. Among the 17 animals, there was a rhino calf and a hog deer. Almost 72 were rescued by the forest department, according to reports. The situation is Assam's Kaziranga National Park is dreary as almost 173 forest camps are still battling with the flood situation.

Health Repercussions Of Flood Affected Areas

Assam, Manipur and other Northeastern states are one of the most flood-prone areas. Every year, these regions are ravaged by heavy rainfall, floods landslides followed by a very high death toll. Along with houses and villages getting submerged, they also suffer from long-term health consequences in the aftermath of flood. There are both long-term and short-term impacts of floods on health:

1. Hypothermia.
2. Animal bites.
3. Vector-borne diseases like dengue, malaria, chikungunya and zika.
4. Waterborne diseases like diarrhoea cholera, typhoid, fever, hepatitis A and leptospirosis.
5. Undernutrition due to lack of access to food.
6. Salt water intrusion in fresh waterbodies can cause eclampsia and hypertension.
7. Severe mental health problems.
8. Pulmonary and systemic fungal infections resulting from moulds.