Assam floods worsen as 57,000 affected, Army and Air Force on standby
The flood situation in Assam worsened on Sunday, with one person dying and the number of affected people rising to more than 57,000 across seven
The flood situation in Assam worsened on Sunday, with one person dying and the number of affected people rising to more than 57,000 across seven districts, officials said. The state government has asked the Army and the Air Force to remain on standby for possible evacuation and rescue operations in the worst-hit areas. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said four ministers have been sent to Upper Assam to supervise rescue and relief work in the three worst-affected districts. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the latest death in Sivasagar has taken this year’s flood toll in the state to five. Read Full Story The ASDMA said more than 57,100 people have been affected by the floods in Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Udalguri districts.
Charaideo is the worst hit with nearly 24,000 people affected, followed by Dhemaji with 22,000 and Dibrugarh with 4,000. Till Saturday, nearly 24,000 people were affected across four districts. In a social media post, Sarma said the government had requested the Army and the Air Force to stay ready to support the state administration. “As the flood situation in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat continues to worsen, the Assam government has requested the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to be on standby to support evacuation and rescue operations, if required,” he said. The chief minister also said he had directed ministers Ajanta Neog, Bimal Borah, Keshab Mahanta and Susanta Borgohain to immediately visit the flood-hit areas.
He said they would supervise relief work and ensure that every affected family received timely assistance. “The safety and well-being of our people is our highest priority. I am monitoring the situation round the clock, and we will take every necessary step to protect lives and provide all possible relief,” Sarma said. The ASDMA said the administration is operating 14 relief camps and relief distribution centres in four districts, where 440 displaced people are being sheltered at present. State Disaster Response Force personnel have rescued 10 people from different parts of Charaideo. In the last 24 hours, the authorities distributed 58.17 quintals of rice, 10.89 quintals of dal, 3.26 quintals of salt and 326.88 litres of mustard oil among affected people.
At present, 298 villages are under water and 3,874.84 hectares of crop land have been damaged across the state, the ASDMA said. Floodwaters have also damaged embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructure in several districts. The Burhidihing river was flowing above the danger mark at Chenimari in the Khowang area of Dibrugarh. More than 37,558 domestic animals and poultry have also been affected across Assam. Overall, the flood situation in Assam has deteriorated sharply, with casualties, rising displacement and damage to villages, farmland, infrastructure and livestock, as rescue and relief operations continue in the affected districts. Ends
The BriefWire