At least another 31 people have been killed in floods in India's north-eastern state of Assam, raising the death toll during the monsoon season in the region to 61, officials said Sunday. The floods have swamped more than 2,000 villages across 23 of Assam's 27 districts since mid-June, forcing around 2 million people to leave their homes for higher ground.
Since Friday, 31 people were killed in flood-related incidents including 16 deaths in landslides in the North Cachar Hills district and state capital Guwahati, Assam's Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka said.
"Although the rains have eased and the water-level in rivers has started receding, the situation still remains grim," Deka told dpa. "Rescue and relief operations are in full-swing to deal with what are considered the worst floods in Assam since 1998."
Around 3,500 marooned people have been rescued by the army from 10 districts. Soldiers have also been deployed to distribute rice, blankets and drinking water in these areas.
Most of the displaced people were in makeshift shelters on embankments. Many villagers moved to higher ground around their homes. Around 500,000 people were lodged in 770 state-run relief camps.
Assam was jolted by an earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale Sunday morning but no casualties or damage were reported, the IANS news agency reported.
Almost every year, monsoon-driven floods cause widespread destruction as overflowing rivers submerge villages and farmland. According to the federal Home Ministry, more than 150 people have died during the monsoon season across India so far this year.