By   Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati: The Assam government on today issued a red alert as the flood situation turned extremely critical, displacing tens of thousands and cutting off entire portions of the state. As many as 9,157 villages across 30 districts of the northeastern state, including Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Darrang, Udalguri, Baksa, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar, were submerged as the rain continued unabated. The number of dead also increased to 22, with 6 people losing their lives on today . Nearly 57 lakh people across 30 of the state’s 33 districts have been affected by the floods so far. Barpeta was the worst-hit district, with as many as 9.35 lakh people facing the brunt of the monsoon fury, followed by Goalpara, Morigaon, Nagaon and Hailakandi. The rising water level of the Brahmaputra river is threatening to submerge parts of Guwahati, through which it flows. The ten other rivers in the state also swelled up dangerously as the rains continued.Forest officials said that 98 per cent of the Kaziranga National Park — home to the endangered one-horned rhino — has been flooded with the death of 17 wild animals in the past two days. Animals could be seen emerging out of the park to escape drowning.Prime Minister Narendra Modi had called up Mr Sonowal on Monday to take stock of the situation. The Chief Minister apprised him of the largescale destruction caused by the floods, and provided details of the relief measures being undertaken.The Union government has assured the state of all possible support and cooperation in this regard. Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier directed central agencies, including the NDRF, to leave no stone unturned to help in rescue and rehabilitation efforts.