by Peerzada Arshad Hamid

NEW DELHI, July 14 (Xinhua) -- The incessant rains in India's northeastern state of Assam has worsened the flood situation there as water has inundated new areas, officials said Tuesday.

According to officials around 2.2 million people were affected in the current wave of flooding in 22 districts. Around 13 rivers and tributaries were flowing above the danger mark.

"All the major rivers including the Brahmaputra are in spate. Floodwater has caused major damage to infrastructure including embankments and destroyed crops," a disaster management official said. "Nearly 22 lakh (2.2 million) people are affected due to surging water in 22 districts."

According to officials, 45,000 people were shifted to relief camps in the affected areas set up for the affected people. Reports said 763 villages were completely inundated and over 100,000 hectares of cropland have been submerged.

Wildlife officials said 95 percent areas of the Kaziranga national park were inundated. The park, a world heritage site, is the largest home to the one-horned rhinoceros in India.

Reports said at least 51 wild animals were confirmed dead and 100 have been rescued. Many wild animals including tigers and rhinos strayed into nearby villages because of the rising water.

The authorities have suspended traffic movement on the national highway near Kaziranga.

On Monday six people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents, which took the toll in this year's floods to at least 50 people.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has been chairing review meetings and ordered repairs of breached embankments.

"Today Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and federal minister Rameshwar Teli and water resource minister Keshab Mahanta are visiting flood and erosion hit Jonai area of Dhemaji District," a government spokesman said. "The chief minister will hold two review meetings at Jonai, one with water resource department and the other with Dhemaji district administration."

Officials said India's National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams were carrying out massive rescue operations in Assam.

Floods are an annual occurrence in Assam during the monsoon season.

Meanwhile, the meteorological department officials said the intensity of rainfall over India's northeast has substantially reduced. However, isolated heavy falls were likely over the region during the next two to three days. Enditem

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