The flood situation in Assam deteriorated more on Wednesday as reported. Five more people lost their lives and 2.49 million people are suffering in the deluge.
The flood tide report issued by Assam State Disaster Management Authority on Wednesday morning said the number of people affected by cataracts in 28 districts increased to over 24.92 lakh. It was a little more than 21 lakh on Monday.
Most parts of Silchar in Cachar district remained submerged for over a week now, they said. Three people were killed in Cachar and one each in Morigaon and Dhubri. With these deaths, the death risks in this year’s flood rose to 140. Three people were also missing, two were from Cachar district and one from Chirang district, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
On Monday, 21.53 lakh people in 22 districts went through hardships and misery because of this horrific calamity. And in the last 24 hours, 24.91 lakh people were affected by the floods in 28 districts of the state.
The rivers of Brahmaputra, Beki, Kopili, Barak and Kushiyara are flowing above the danger mark, the water level in other rivers is gradually levelling down.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma himself in person visited the severely-affected districts of Bajali and Barpeta and interacted with the affected people. He recognized a breached embankment at Kuruwa in Patacharkuchi and the flood situation at Charalpara Nayapara in Bhabanipur. He also set up relief camps for the sufferers.
Image source: timesofindia.com
He also tweeted, “Visited Kuwara at Patacharkuchi, Bajali to understand the current flood situation and damage caused by overflowing of Kaldia river along with my Cabinet colleague Shri @RanjeetkrDass”.
Reliefs taken for the Assam flood situation
A total amount of Rs 9 crore has been permitted by the CM for strengthening the embankment of Pahumara river and the construction of a road on it. Sarma visited three relief camps in Barpeta and assured the people there that steps will be taken soon to control the waters from Harijan river.
In Silchar, Tourism Minister Jayant Malla Barua reviewed the flood relief and rescue operations. A team of National Health Mission (NHM) led by Assam Mission Director Lakshmi Priya, also visited the city and took care of proper medical facilities for the affected people.
The NHM said that medical officers and paramedical staff will be sent to the health camps for the prevention of further diseases because of the flood. A total of 7,213 people were given shelters during the day, and those found to be very sick were sent to hospital. Silchar has been submerged under the water for more than one week. Helicopters are being taken to deliver food items and necessary aids to the people who are difficult to reach.
Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli said water pouches and water purifying tablets are being distributed among the people.
From the recent updates it is known that in Barak Valley’s biggest urban centre, Silchar is now showing improvements. Hence repair of the damaged dyke at Bethukandi is underway, which will lead to flooding of the city further in future.
Damage caused in and outside of the state of Assam
According to the updates provided by the ASDMA, a total of 2,386 villages in 72 revenue circles have been affected across the state, while 1,76,205 people have taken shelter in 559 relief camps. Floodwaters have damaged 155 roads and five bridges, while seven embankments were ruptured — five in Hailakandi and two in Bishwanath. A crop area of 85,673.62 hectares is still submerged underwater and 4,309 animals were washed away.
Large scale erosion was reported from the districts of Chirang, Dibrugarh and Hailakandi. Two landslides happened in Karimganj and Lakhimpur. Fortunately these two places showed no casualties.
Although, after signs of improvement, the flood situation was again worsened in parts of Assam on Wednesday following heavy rains in the past 24 hours. Many new areas in North Assam districts like Sonitpur, Biswanath, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Majuli were drowned on Tuesday because of continuous heavy rains which continued not only in Assam but also in neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh too. Five deaths have been reported there since Sunday due to landslides in the state capital, Itanagar.
Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu asked people to find and shift to safer shelters in order to avoid more mishaps due to the landslides caused by the floods. Water from the Siang river rushed onto the lands on Tuesday following heavy rains. Several areas are still underwater in East Siang district, as the officials said.
