Floods, landslide kill 8 in Assam

NDRF called in to rescue people in water-logged Guwahati city

At least eight people, including three members of a family, were killed here due to landslides and flash floods triggered by incessant rain since Thursday night, said officials on Friday.

Four persons were killed due to landslides in two places, while another four died due to electrocution in different locations, said the officials.

Yet another person was missing, after having been washed away by the surging waters of the Bharalu river.

The National Disaster Response Force has been called in to rescue marooned people in Guwahati, where many parts are inundated as there was no outlet for the waters into the adjacent rivers Brahmaputra and Bharalu.

“Three members of a family—Kanak Barman (45), Pratima (12) and Tulasi (8)—lost their lives in a landslide on Thursday night in the Narakasur area,” said Rajib Prakash Baruah, deputy commissioner in-charge of Kamrup (Metro) district. He said another woman died in the Bamunimaidam area due to landslide.

A government employee, Dinesh Das, was electrocuted on Thursday night in the water-logged MLA Hostel in the Capital Complex in the Dispur area, said sources.

A second person, Prafulla Das, Deputy Director of Arunachal Pradesh Cultural Affairs Department, was electrocuted when he attempted to switch off the inverter at his residence in the water-logged Nabin Nagar area on Friday.

Another person, Suren Bharali, was also electrocuted in the Down Town Hospital area on G S Road and the fourth in the Last Gate area.

One Bhaskarjyoti Das also died due to electrocution.

The district administration has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10,000 each to the families of the victims.

Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, who visited the inundated areas of the city on Friday to assess the situation, said the state government would pay adequate compensation to the families of the deceased.