Assam flood: 44.96 lakh people affected, Centre releases Rs 251.55 crore

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), all the 32 districts in the state have been affected by this year flood.

The floodwaters have submerged 4,620 villages in 124 revenue circles in 32 districts.

19 people have lost their lives due to flood and landslide in the state so far.

17 persons have lost their lives due to flood in the districts of Dhemaji (2), Golaghat (3), Barpeta (1), Jorhat (2), Dhubri (1), Goalpara (1), Morigaon (4), Nagaon (2) and Hailakandi (1) and 2 persons lost their lives due to landslide in Kamrup (M) and Dima Hasao districts.

Presently, 226 relief camps are operational with 1,01,085 inmates and 562 Relief Distribution Centres are functioning in the state.

NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams have been pressed into service in the flood-affected areas for search and rescue operations.

NDRF team with rescue boats (459 + personnel with boats) have been placed in 16 locations and SDRF has been deployed in 40 locations (338 personnel with rescue boats) of the state.

On the other hand, at least 30 wild animals including three rhinos have died in flood in the Kaziranga National Park with 90 per cent of the park now underwater.

The centre has released Rs 251.55 crore as the first instalment of SDRF to Assam.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday and took brief on the flood situation in Assam.

PM Modi sent Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, for a first hand assessment of the flood situation in the state and the Union Minister on Tuesday reviewed the flood situation in the state in presence of Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam ministers Keshab Mahanta,  Bhabesh Kalita and senior officials at a meeting in the Office of the Regional Executive Director, Airport Authority of India, Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport, Guwahati.

Sonowal requested the Union Minister to take early steps for the constitution of North East Water Management Authority recommended by High-Level Committee headed by Vice Chairman NITI Ayog.

He also requested to include river erosion in the list of admissible natural calamities under SDRF.

The Assam government will submit an interim Memorandum shortly on damage caused. Union Minister assured that a Central Team will visit the State soon to assess the damage caused.

The Assam CM has been continuously reviewing the flood situation in the State and has instructed all Ministers, MPs, MLAs and representatives of Local bodies to keep a close watch on the flood situation and requested to render necessary assistance to the flood victims.

Sonowal has further directed all Deputy Commissioners to provide sufficient relief materials and make necessary arrangements for drinking water, baby food, medical teams and medicines and cattle fodder.

Fund amounting to Rs 75.95 crore has been released so far to the districts as advance by the state government.

Further, directions have been issued to provide ex gratia to the next of kin of the deceased persons within 48 hours.

Besides, opening relief camps, Gratuitous relief have also been distributed through Relief Distribution Centres.

Earlier, the Union Minister had conducted an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of the districts of Upper Assam mainly Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Majuli by helicopter and discussed the situation with the officials of district administration and concerned departments.

Shekhawat also visited the relief camps of Majuli and gave the inhabitants an assurance of full assistance from the central government.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)

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