SAN FRANCISCO (Diya TV) — After one of the most ravaging droughts the country has seen in a number of years, heavy rains and floods have killed at least seven people and forced another 1.2 million from their homes in India’s northeastern state of Assam.
Army soldiers used boats Wednesday to rescue thousands who were stranded on the roofs of their homes, moving them to safer areas as the storm, which has caused widespread flooding, continued to rip through Assam the last few days.
The state’s disaster management officials said the downpours had snapped road and telephone communications in Morigaon, Jorhat and Dibrugarh districts.
Large areas of Kaziranga National Park, home to the rare one-horned rhino, and another wildlife reserve were all under water Wednesday. Forest officials said they have found the remains of at least one rhino that had drowned due to the flooding in the park.
The Brahmaputra River and its tributaries were overflowing their banks in 18 of the state’s districts, taking with it roads and highways, as well as knocking down several power and utility poles. Floodwaters have entered homes in at least five districts, leading to multiple collapses. In some areas, people were marooned on the roofs of buildings and soldiers were moving them to makeshift camps set up in schools and government buildings on higher ground.
Floods are an annual occurrence in Assam and many parts of India during the June-September monsoon season.
