With over 34,000 people affected across 19 districts, the Indian Meteorological Department issued a Red Alert predicting moderate to extremely heavy rainfall in several districts of Assam over the next few days.
PTI
Heavy rainfall in both the upper catchment areas of Bhutan and Assam and the release of water from the Kurichhu Dam in Bhutan is linked to rising water levels in the Brahmaputra river and causing floods in Western Assam.
At present, around 5842.78 hectares of crop areas have been damaged and 523 villages spanning 17 districts in Assam are underwater. Extensive damage also includes vital infrastructure, including roads, bridges, and embankments have been damaged by the surging floodwaters.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority’s (ASDMA) daily flood report, the districts directly impacted by the floods are Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dibrugarh, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Sonitpur and Udalguri districts. With over 22,000 people affected, Lakhimpur is the worst hit, followed by Dibrugarh with around 3,900 people and Kokrajhar with more than 2,700 persons, the report stated.
The controversy surrounding Kurichhu Dam’s water release.
Amidst the growing panic surrounding the havoc caused by the floods, several reports in local news channels and newspapers have added to the mass panic by linking the cause of increasing water levels and floods to the release of water from the Kurichhu Dam in Bhutan. ASDMA in a statement clarified such suspicions which solely blamed the water release from the dam for the floods in Assam.
In a statement issued on Tuesday ASDMA has addressed the people of Assam and clarified that the impact caused by the release of water from Kurichhu Dam is not the sole reason for the Assam floods. The primary reason for the upsurge of water levels in Brahmaputra and its tributaries is due to incessant rainfall in the upper catchment areas.
Red Alert was issued for 24 hours from Tuesday.
A weather advisory issued by The Royal Government of Bhutan on Tuesday forecasted that cloudy weather with light to moderate rainfall might occur in isolated areas of Bhutan in the next two to three days. This is expected to potentially lead to increasing water levels in the upper catchment areas of the BrahmaputRiverver.
In another statement ASDMA has urged people to refrain from activities like fishing, collecting firewood, swimming, or crossing rivers in the following days. ASDMA reassured that it is committed to monitoring the situation closely to ensure the safety and well-being of the people by providing them with regular and timely updates and any relevant information.
At present, have been affected by the first wave of the deluge has affected over 34,000 people across the state. A ‘Red Alert’ has been for 24 hours from Tuesday, followed by an ‘Orange Alert’ for Wednesday and a ‘Yellow Alert’ for Thursday by IMD’s Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati indicating the need for immediate action, preparedness and vigilance respectively.
In response to the deteriorating conditions in Assam on June 16, 2024, AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal took to Twitter to appeal to AAP workers in Assam to help the victims in the areas affected by flood and incessant rain and provide aid to the local administration in rescue and relief work.
As a precautionary measure, the Assam Government allocated Rs 71 crore as advance gratuitous relief (GR) to the districts and subdivisions earlier this year. Some of the districts and subdivisions that have received the GR fund are – Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Cachar, Darrang, Dhubri, Dima Hasao, Kamrup, Kamrup, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Bajali, Gohpur, and Dhakuakhana. The fund will utilize to include aid relief supplies such as rations, utensils, and other essential items to flood-affected people who might take shelter in relief camps.
