The flood situation in Uttar Pradesh remained alarming on Tuesday with reports of 10 more deaths, taking the toll to 82 in the current wave of floods in the State.

“As many as 2,855 villages in 25 districts are inundated affecting a population of over 22 lakh,” the Relief Commissioner’s office said here, citing a flood report as on Monday.

Around 50,000 people had taken shelter in camps in eastern U.P. where there was no let-up in flood fury as the raging waters of rivers emanating in Nepal caused havoc in vast areas, it said.

Bihar reported 37 more deaths on Tuesday, taking the toll to 341. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will make an aerial survey of the flood-affected districts of Bihar on August 26, said Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. Army choppers, the NDRF and PAC (flood) jawans continued rescue operations. Incessant rain and swollen rivers impeded rescue work and evacuation of people to safer areas, reports said.

The flood situation in Assam improved further on Tuesday with water receding from human habitations and fields. No fresh deaths were reported in the State and the toll stood at 70, an Assam State Disaster Management Authority report here said. In the wave of floods this year, 2.83 lakh big and 1.71 lakh small animals, besides 4.73 lakh poultry have been affected. Infrastructure such as roads, bridges, embankments and culverts have been damaged by the floods in Barpeta, Kokrajhar, Dhemaji, Dhhubri, Nagaon and Dibrugarh districts.

In Himachal Pradesh, one man is feared to have drowned in the swollen Govind Sagar Lake in Bilaspur district. Thirteen houses were damaged following heavy rain.

A new committee will find a lasting solution to the flooding and erosion in Assam

Sarbananda Sonowal

Assam Chief Minister