Modi calls Sonowal and takes stock of Assam flood situation, CM meets flood-affected people

The Assam CM has also directed all district Deputy Commissioners to take adequate measures to help the flood-affected people.

He said that he had already discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the centre has assured to help the state to overcome the natural hazard.

“31 out of 33 Assam’s districts have been affected by this flood. Lakhs of people have affected due to the flood. The Assam government has taken special measures to ensure no scarcity of the food materials. All district Deputy Commissioners have been directed to do work for the flood-affected people by 24 hours. Apart from the Deputy Commissioners, all Circle Officers, BDOs and other officials of the Assam government have also been instructed," Sonowal said.

"We are hopeful that, we will be able to provide relief materials and other assistance to the flood-affected people with the help of the people of Assam. I had already discussed with Union Home Minister Amit Shah the current flood situation and he urged to send the all damage assessment and we had sent it. I am hopeful that, the Union Home Minister and the Centre will help us as they assured,” he added.

The Assam CM on Monday visited several relief camps in flood-hit Nalbari district and met the flood-affected people in the camps.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday called Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and assured all support from the centre to bail the state out of the scourge of the situation.

Sonowal apprised the Prime Minister of the large-scale devastation that the flood has had on the people and economy of the state and informed him about the details of relief, rescue as well as rehabilitation operations undertaken by the State government.

The Assam CM also apprised the Prime Minister that State government has sensitised administration throughout the state both in Barak and Brahmaputra Valley and asked the Deputy Commissioners to reach out to the flood affected people with their men and materials.

Sonowal also briefed the Prime Minister of the entire gamut of relief and rescue operations pressed into service to help the marooned people.

Sonowal said that he has asked the state ministers and all public representatives including MLAs to extend their helping hands to the victims of flood and involve themselves in the rescue operations by being themselves beside the affected people.

On being asked, Sonowal informed the Prime Minister that flood control mechanisms including 24X7 control rooms have been pressed into service with state government officials are on duty manning the control rooms round the clock. Health department, Public Health Engineering department have been asked to respond to health related issues and provide medicines and clean drinking water.

Veterinary and Animal Husbandry department has been asked to take care of the marooned animals and keep adequate fodder stock ready for the stray animals of Kaziranga National Park and other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.

He also apprised the Prime Minister of his direction to the national parks authorities to supply foods to the animals took shelter on the high lands.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi assured all help, support and cooperation from the Centre to help Assam government to bail out the situation and asked Chief Minister to undertake relief, rescue and rehabilitation measures on a war footing.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)