Assam flood toll rises to 78, fresh rain alert as over 3 lakh remain affected
New Delhi: The death toll in the Assam floods rose to 78 on Wednesday after three more fatalities were reported, even as over 3 lakh people remained affected across seven districts, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
Two of the latest deaths were reported in Sivasagar district and one in Golaghat.
The ASDMA bulletin said 3,00,031 people remained affected in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Biswanath and Kamrup Metropolitan districts. Floodwaters continued to affect 21 revenue circles and 551 villages, while 21,523.08 hectares of cropland remained submerged.
Charaideo was the worst-affected district, with 1,37,561 people impacted, followed by Sivasagar with 84,600 and Jorhat with 49,911. The affected population declined from 3.32 lakh across six districts on Tuesday, indicating a marginal improvement in the overall situation.
Thousands in relief camps
More than 16,500 displaced people were staying in 71 relief camps, while over 72,000 were receiving assistance through 30 relief distribution centres.
Rescue agencies and medical and veterinary teams continued to assist affected communities.
The floods also damaged embankments, roads, houses, schools and other public infrastructure. More than 11,000 animals were washed away, while another 17,000 were affected, according to the bulletin.
Centre assures assistance
Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday to review the flood situation and ongoing relief operations. It was their second conversation in seven days, following an earlier review on July 23.
Sarma said Shah assured Assam of the Centre’s continued assistance with relief, restoration and rebuilding.
Speaking after flagging off relief materials collected by BJP workers, Sarma said floodwaters had receded following a pause in heavy rainfall after July 21, but extensive damage continued to prevent many residents from returning home.
“The flood situation has improved, but the damage has been so huge. Many people cannot return to their homes as their houses have either been damaged or filled with mud and silt. Roads in some places remain blocked due to mud brought down from the hills of Nagaland,” Sarma said.
The chief minister ruled out the need for international assistance, saying the state and central governments had sufficient resources to manage the crisis.
He also announced that he would chair a meeting with representatives of banks operating in Assam on Thursday to discuss special loan assistance for flood-affected residents.
Army Chief reviews operations
Army Chief General Dhiraj Seth reviewed the security situation and ongoing flood-relief operations in the Northeast during a two-day visit to formations of the Eastern Theatre on July 28 and 29.
He was briefed on operational preparedness and relief work being undertaken in coordination with the civil administration. General Seth also reviewed the security situation in Manipur and attended the opening ceremony of the 135th Indian Oil Durand Cup in Imphal.
IMD warns of more rain
The India Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms at isolated places in Assam and parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland from July 30 to August 1.
An orange alert has been issued for Assam’s Tinsukia district and the Nagaland districts of Mon, Mokokchung and Wokha. The rainfall could also affect Assam’s Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat districts.
The weather could aggravate waterlogging and flooding, trigger flash floods and localised landslides, and disrupt traffic in vulnerable areas. Authorities have advised residents to remain vigilant and take necessary precautions.
Curated by – Ramansh Dhadwal