Updated on Thursday, July 02, 2009, 13:27 IST

Guwahati, July 02: The flood situation on Thursday turned grave in Assam following heavy rainfall in the catchment areas as red alert was sounded in Majuli, the world's largest river island, and Lakhimpur.

Official sources said more than two lakh people of nearly 300 villages have been affected due to breach in embankments at Majuli and Lakhimpur.

In Majuli, an embankment was breached this morning at Nayabazaar inundating Jengraimukh, Fuloni, Halodiati, Kherkotamukh and Nayabazaar.

In Lakhimpur, a 100-metre stretch of the "geo-fabric" embankment, constructed by a Malaysian company at a cost of Rs 140 crore, was breached yesterday at Matmora affecting nearly 200 villages.

East Dhakuakhana, Matmora, Kherkota, Dangdhara, Dimoruguri, Kekuri and Dholpata were among the areas which got submerged.

Heavy rainfall in the catchment areas in the foothills of the Himalayas in Arunachal Pradesh resulted in floods in Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Sonitpur and Jorhat.

A red alert has been sounded in these areas and personnel of National Disaster Rescue Force were engaged in rescuing the marooned people.

Water level of the mighty Brahmaputra was flowing close to the danger level at Guwahati.

Bureau Report