Brahmaputra breaks previous records, toll rises to 104 Wednesday, July 21 2004 21:49 Hrs (IST)
Guwahati:
Flood fury continued unabated in Assam with the rising Brahmaputra today (July 21, 2004) breaking all previous records in the capital city of Guwahati, Goalpara, Nagaon and Cachar while the death toll has risen to 104, official sources said in Guwahati.
A red alert has been sounded in Guwahati as the Brahmaputra was flowing at 51.43 m against the previous highest of 51.37 in 1988 and several areas in the city has been inundated.
In Goalpara, the Brahmaputra was flowing at 37.85 m, which was much higher than the earlier record of 37.43 in 1954.
The Brahmaputra and its tributaries also crossed its earlier records in Kampur and Dharamtul in Nagaon and Motizuri in Cachar while it was flowing above the danger level
throughout the State.
An embankment was breached in Palashbari area in the outskirts of Guwahati, which has threatened the Lokopriyo Gopinath International Airport. Water has so far not entered the airport but several areas leading to it have been inundated.
The Dhubri district jail has been totally submerged with the 192 inmates being safely evacuated to District Library.
More than one crore population have been affected by the current wave of floods while road and rail communication across the state remains disrupted.
An all-party meeting has been convened tomorrow to discuss the devastating flood situation in the State.