Guwahati:The flood waters in Assam s Kamrup (rural), Baksa and Lakhimpur districts were receding and the submerged NH 31 that connects the north eastern region to the rest of the country was reopened to traffic today, official sources said.

They said though the waters were receding, houses along the NH31 were still under water and the affected people continued to stay in the two relief camps, set up by the authorities.

The BSF and the National Disaster Response Force, called in yesterday by the district administration, continued their operations today to rescue marooned people by pressing eight motor boats into service, the sources said.

Incessant rains for the last three days at Puthimari area and upper reaches of the surrounding mountains in Bhutan caused an embankment to be breached on Monday night. The flood waters also engulfed the villages and damaged standing paddy crops ready for harvest, they said.

Traffic movement on NH 31 came to a standstill yesterday due to the flash floods, the sources said.

The embankment at Puthimari that had earlier been breached on August 31 developed cracks within five days of its maintenance at a cost of Rs 19 lakh, resulting in breach by the rain waters, they added.
Source : PTI