Three persons died due to landslides and six people drowned at different places in Assam on Sunday, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). It took the death toll to 71.?

Officials said Many new localities came under the impact of the deluge in several districts of Assam and overnight incessant rain inundated more areas in Guwahati. More than 42,28,100 people are hit due to floods in 5,137 villages across 31?districts, as per ASDMA.

ASDMA has said Assam is witnessing floods and landslides for the last six days, leaving behind a huge trail of destruction everywhere.?

Relief materials were also distributed among people who are affected by the floods and have not taken shelter in relief camps, the ASDA said. At least 302 relief distribution centres or points opened temporarily, it said.?

The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has been helping the district administrations evacuate people from the flood-hit areas. The state disaster response force, fire and emergency services personnel, police personnel, and ASDMA volunteers have also been deployed for rescue operations.?

"So far, 20,983 people have been evacuated by the various agencies," the ASDAMA bulletin said.?

Incessant rain since Saturday night wreaked havoc in Guwahati, leading to knee-deep water logging in many areas across the city, while water has touched the chest level at some places. Guwahati Municipal Corporation Commissioner Devashish Sharma told reporters that sluice gates on the Bharalu river have been shut.?

He said, "Due to heavy rain in Upper Assam and flowing of excess water through the Brahmaputra, the water level of the river in Guwahati has risen considerably. Its level is now above that of its tributary Bharalu."?

To stop backflow of Brahmaputra water into the city, the administration has closed all the sluice gates on the Bharalu, the lifeline of Guwahati city.?

He said, "This led to flooding of new areas in the city. During the last few days, we were able to pump out floodwaters to Bharalu, but today we are not able to do so."?

Flooding was reported from Zoo road, RG Baruah road, Nabin Nagar, Anil Nagar, Hatigaon, Lachit Nagar, Tarun Nagar, Jyotikuchi, Ghoramara, VIP road, Chandmari and many other areas.?

Fresh landslides were reported from Cachar, Dima Hasao, Goalpara, Hailakandi, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karimganj and South Salmara districts. During the last 24 hours, Assam recorded an average rainfall of 37.2 mm. As per the Central Water Commission bulletin, the Brahmaputra river is flowing above danger marks at Neamatighat in Jorhat, Tezpur in Sonitpur, Goalpara and Dhubri towns.

Brahmputra's tributaries Kopili at Kampur and Dharamtul in Nagaon district, Subansiri at Badatighat in Lakhimpur, Puthimari at NH Road Crossing in Kamrup, Pagladia at NT Road Crossing in Nalbari, Manas at NH Road Crossing in Barpeta and Beki at Road Bridge in Barpeta are flowing above danger levels. The Barak river at BP Ghat in Karimganj, AP Ghat in Cachar and Matizuri in Hailakandi, and its tributary Kushiyara at Karimganj town are flowing above the danger levels.?

(With PTI inputs)