Devastating floods and heavy rainfall continued to reel Assam for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking stock of the situation while Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited a few relief camps sheltering affected people, official sources said on Saturday.
The current second wave of floods and landslides in the state have claimed 55 lives and affected a population of nearly 19 lakhs in 28 districts.
Three children were reported missing while 21 others have been rescued when a boat capsized in Assam’s Hojai district on Friday night.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the Chief Minister to enquire about the current flood situation in the state and assured all possible help from the centre.
”Earlier today, spoke to Assam CM and took stock of the situation due to floods in the state. Assured all possible support from the centre. I pray for the safety and well-being of the people of Assam affected by flooding”, the Prime Minister tweeted.
Sarma, replying to the PM’s tweet, thanked him for his ”personal interest in this matter. ”Very kind of you to have called to take an update on the relief and rehabilitation work in flood affected areas of Assam”.
”We are closely monitoring the situation and providing best help to people”, he added.
The Chief Minister visited Rangia in Kamrup district, inundated by flood water in most parts of the town, and reviewed the ground situation with BJP Chief and local MLA Bhabeesh Kalita. He also visited relief camps at Fatima Convent School and Kolajal where flood affected people have taken shelter.
Speaking to media persons, Sarma said that the district administration is ready to face any exigencies and help the flood affected people.
”They have been directed to ensure relief supplies and evacuate people from vulnerable areas to relief camps. The army is ready to provide assistance and the Deputy Commissioners have been asked to take their help when required while NDRF and SDRF personnel are evacuating affected people to safer places”, he said.
The Chief Minister assured the inmates of the relief camps that all necessary steps are being taken to help them with rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures.
Meanwhile, the Central Water Commission (CWC) bulletin on Saturday stated that the river Kopili is flowing above ‘High Flood Level’ at Kampur in Nagaon district.
The Brahmaputra at Nimatighat, Tezpur, Dhubrim, Jia- Bharali at Sonitpur, Kopili at Dharamtul in Nagaon, Puthimari at Kamrup, Pagladia at Nalbari, Manas and Beki at Barpeta and Barak and Kushiara at Karimganj are flowing above the danger level, according to the bulletin.
The 28 districts affected by floods are Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Hojai, Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Karbi Anglong West, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Tinsukia, Udalguri district have reported flood, according to a report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Saturday.
A total of 96 Revenue Circle and 2,930 villages have been impacted by floods.
A total crop area 43,338.39 hectares have been inundated while 410 animals have been washed in the current wave of floods, according to the ASDMA.
Landslides were reported from Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Morigaon, Kamrup and Kamrup (M) during the last 24 hrs.
More than 1.08 lakh people are taking shelters in 373 relief camps. Relief materials were also distributed to other affected populations who
are not taking shelters in relief camps through 232 relief distribution centres/ points opened temporarily.
