April 25, 2024 16:44 (IST)
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Assam flood situation worsens, over 20 lakh people affected, death toll at 21
Guwahati, July 28 (IBNS): Assam flood situation is more worsened after flood waters submerged more areas in the state with over 20 lakh people of 22 districts being affected and 21 people dying in the fresh crisis in the state.
Five people including a minor girl were washed away in flood waters in the state on Thursday with death toll rising to 21.
Flood waters of Brahmaputra and its tributaries have submerged more areas in the most of the Lower Assam district.
The Assam state disaster management authority said that, water levels of Brahmaputra and its tributaries have crossed their danger level marks at many places following torrential rains in past couple of days.
Flood waters have submerged over 80 percent areas in Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife sanctuary.
Wild animals including one horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park have crossed NH-37 and took shelter in nearest Karbi hills.
On the other hand, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday visited the flood affected Majuli, Nagaon, Morigaon, Jorhat, Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts and took stock of the prevailing situation in these districts.
Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta and Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Naba Kumar Doley also accompanied the Chief Minister.
Sonowal visited the flood affected areas of Majuli Island and reviewed the relief and rescue operations.
Sonowal also inspected the breach on the embankment at Bongaon in Majuli and asked the Water Resources Department to repair the breach on a war footing.
He also took stock of the rescue operations being carried out by the NDRF, SDRF, CRPF and Indian Army.
The Assam CM also chaired a meeting held at the circuit house in Majuli island and reviewed the prevailing situation with Deputy Commissioner, Jorhat, SDO (Civil) Majuli and the departmental heads of Water Resources Department, Health and Family Welfare, PWD, Agriculture, Veterinary and Animal Husbandry.
The Assam CM directed the top functionaries to keep a close vigil on the embankments. He also called upon everybody to work on a war footing to extend all sorts of help to the people reeling under flood.
Sonowal has directed the Water Resources Department and Brahmaputra Board to undertake a joint inspection in the vulnerable areas where breach can happen and take preventive steps.
Moreover, on the direction of the Chief Minister, teams have been formed for surveillance of embankments on 24X7 basis. Necessary steps have also been taken to repair Haldibari- Kamalibari embankments.
Sonowal has asked the district administration to take care of the health and hygiene of the camp inmates.
He issued direction to keep special care to babies, old inmates and provide baby foods, medicines in adequate quantity.
The CM has ordered the administrative machinery to keep an eye on the aftermath of the flood so that outbreak of communicable diseases can be nipped in the bud. Direction has also been given to provide adequate fodder stock.
He also met some satradhikars and took stock of the problem faced by the Satras and Satridhakars in the wake of current wave of flood.
Sonowal visited relief camps set up at Rang Ghar, Bongaon and Bongaon ME School and interacted with camp inmates.
He then proceeded to Lakhimpur and held a review meeting with the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and the departmental heads posted in the two districts.
The Assam CM asked the DCs to prioritise relief and rescue operations and help the flood affected people on a war footing.
Sonowal informed that the Chief Secretary V.K. Pipersenia, who is coordinating and supervising the entire relief and rescue operations in the flood affected districts, and asked the DCs to inform the Chief Secretary any critical situation they faced in negotiating with the flood and remedial steps will be taken accordingly.
There will be no dearth of Gratuitous Relief (GR) materials in the State and all the district administrations and Food Corporation of India (FCI) have been instructed to procure good quality food items for the flood affected people.
Sonowal has handed over two cheques worth Rs. 4 lakh each as grant to the next kin of the dead in the flood.
The Assam CM also interacted with flood affected people taking shelter in relief camps and assured all help to them.
Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta, Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Naba Kumar Doley, MLAs Utpal Dutta, Debananda Hazarika, Pradan Baruah were present during Chief Minister’s visit to the district.
In view of prevailing flood situation in the Assam, the CM has instructed Ministers to visit flood affected districts to take stock of the situation and supervise relief and rescue operations.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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