Assam flood situation improves, 9 dead

Guwahati, June 1 (IANS) Even as the flood situation largely improved in Assam, at least nine people have died since last week in the current wave of pre-monsoon floods, officials said on Monday.According to an official report of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) the flood water still inundated the vast areas of 253 villages under Goalpara, Nagaon and Hojai districts. "During the past five days, nine people have died in different places of the three districts. Around two lakh people are still affected by the floods," an official of the ASDMA said. The officials said that due to the pre-monsoon rain, heavy and incessant rain since early last week had initially flooded 321 villages in 11 of Assam's 33 districts affecting around three lakh people. The floods have so far damaged crops in 2,678 hectares and affected 44,331 domestic animals and 9,350 poultry.
--IANS sc/kr