Over 6.44 lakh people in 19 districts are affected by the worsening flood situation in Assam. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 35 people have died as a result of flood so far, with one death reported in the Tinsukia district and one person missing in Golaghat district on Monday. The flood has waters inundated 26,199.18 hectares of crop area.
‘Next 48 hours crucial’
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that the next 48 hours are critical as the flood-like scenario in Assam worsened. He continued by saying that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had informed him that the Indian Army and the NDRF were prepared to assist the state government, and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised him every assistance possible.
“Prime Minister Modi has assured us of all possible help, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has informed me that NDRF and the Indian Army are ready to support the state government. The Indian Army is prepared to support Assam at any time.” stated the chief minister of Assam during a press conference on the state’s flood crisis.
CM Sarma further noted that the flood situation in Assam has deteriorated since last night. The water level of the Brahmaputra river is flowing above the danger level mark at Neamatighat, Tezpur, and other rivers are also overflowing in many places. The Assam Chief Minister also said that the state’s Ministers have been directed to visit flood-hit districts, and MLAs and Ministers have been requested to assist flood-affected people.
“In view of the current flood situation, we have temporarily stopped the District Commissioners’ Meeting in Lakhimpur. I have directed Ministers to visit the flood-hit districts and requested MLAs and Ministers to stay in the affected areas and assist the flood-affected people. The next 48 hours are crucial,” Assam CM added.
Crisis in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Biswanath and more
In 19 districts, namely, Kamrup, Golaghat, Majuli, Lakhimpur, Karimganj, Cachar, Dhemaji, Morigaon, Udalguri, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Darrang, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Biswanath, and Jorhat, 1275 villages under 64 revenue circles were affected by the second wave of flood, as per ASDMA flood report. The report further states that 485736 animals were also affected by the situation.
6.44 lakh people affected in state
With 1,43,983 people affected, the flood situation is worse in the Lakhimpur district, followed by 1,01,333 people in the Dhemaji district, 66,195 people in Cachar, 64,392 people in Majuli, 57,422 people in Tinsukia, 55,909 people in Golaghat, 40,178 people in Biswanath, 28,337 in Sivasagar, 25,819 people in Dibrugarh, 21,192 people in Karimganj, 20,052 people in Jorhat district.
The district administration of 12 districts has set up 136 relief camps and distribution centres where over 54,200 people are now taking shelter.
Indian Air Force, SDRF, NDRF join rescue efforts
Local Administration, Indian Air Force, SDRF, NDRF, Paramilitary Force, and Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES) teams are engaged in rescue operations in many flood-hit districts. In the past 24 hours, the floodwaters have damaged 44 roads, one bridge, and six embankments, and breached three other embankments.
Furthermore, 98 forest camps out of 233 camps under Kaziranga National Park are now under water and many wild animals have moved towards neighbouring Karbi Anglong hills by crossing the National Highway 37.
Meanwhile, in view of the current flood situation in Kaziranga, the Golaghat district administration has promulgated diversion of traffic in the entire stretch of Kaziranga National Park within the jurisdiction of Golaghat district which starts Haldibari to Agoratoli under Section 144 CrPC and in the interest of public health, safety and danger to wildlife.
(with inputs from ANI)
