Guwahati, 20 August: The death toll in floods increased to 148 on Saturday with three more deaths reported from Bilasipara in Dhubri, Laharighat in Morigaon and Bokakhat in Golaghat district. However, the overall situation showed signs of improvement. In the first wave of floods, 85 people were killed. All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief and MP Badruddin Ajmal accused the state government of not making adequate arrangements following the death of 148 people in two waves of floods. “Had the government been serious about flood-mitigation measures, the number of casualties would not have been so high. So many people have lost
their property and livelihood. People of the state are in extreme misery,” said Ajmal, who represents the flood-hit Dhubri constituency in Parliament. Refuting Ajmal’s allegation, a senior revenue department official said the state government has been proactive in providing assistance to flood-hit people.
