GUWAHATI: The flood situation in Assam continued to be critical on Sunday. There were fears of an epidemic breaking out with reports of people hit by water-borne diseases, officials said.

“The situation is still grim with 20 of the state’s 27 districts affected by the floods displacing about 21 lakh people and claiming the lives of 24 others,” said Assam relief and rehabilitation minister Bhumidhar Barman.

A Central Water Commission bulletin said the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries were flowing above the danger level in at least 10 places with the trend likely to increase. “The worst hit districts are Dhubri, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Morigaon where the situation is still critical,” the minister said.

The swirling floodwaters of the Brahmaputra River have cut a treacherous swathe across Assam breaching more than 54 vital embankments, besides sweeping away road bridges and stretches of highways.

“Thousands of people are staying in makeshift shelters. The government is providing the displaced people with food and other essentials, besides healthcare facilities,” Barman said.

Despite teams of doctors and paramedics working round the clock in flood-hit areas, there were reports of people suffering from various waterborne diseases in Kamrup and Jorhat districts.

“People in large numbers have complained of diarrhoea, stomach ache and fever. This is mainly because of the unhygienic food and water they consume in makeshift shelters,” said Ramani Das, a private doctor working in one of the flood-hit areas in Kamrup.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said steps were being taken to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic. “Doctors and paramedics have been rushed to the flood affected areas with adequate stock of medicines. We are taking steps to see that people do not suffer,” he said.

Hindus help Muslims fast

Patna: Setting an example of communal harmony in relief camps in flood-hit  Bihar, Hindus are helping Muslims fast for Ramadan by sharing their meargre resources.

Hindus are helping Muslims fast by providing them with whatever is available in the relief camps," said Bihar disaster management minister Nitish Mishra.

A majority of Muslims in the relief camps were fasting while sharing everything with others.

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