GUWAHATI: Assam, a state in northeastern India, is currently grappling with severe floods caused by continuous heavy rainfall. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has promised Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that the federal government will provide all aid available in response to the issue. Shah contacted Sarma to inspect the water damage and to offer assistance.
Taking to Twitter, Shah wrote, "Due to heavy rain, the people in parts of Assam are braving a flood-like situation. I have spoken to CM Shri @himantabiswa Ji and assured all possible assistance. NDRF teams are already on the ground conducting relief and rescue operations, and adequate forces are on standby. The Modi government stands firm as it has always been with the people of Assam in these difficult times."
Expressing gratitude for the concern shown by the Home Minister, CM Sarma stated, "Gratitude Hon'ble Home Minister for your proactive response & concern regarding the flood situation in Assam. The Assam Government is on high alert and providing all assistance to the affected persons. We are grateful to Hon PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for all the help to the state from the Government of India."
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the flood situation in Assam has improved on Saturday, although one more person has died, bringing the total death toll to three this year. The bulletin reported that over 400,000 people are still affected by the floods across 15 districts. The worst-hit district is Baksa, with nearly 221,587 people suffering, followed by Barpeta with 103,996 people, Nalbari with around 40,668 people, and Lakhimpur with 22,060 people.
The situation has marginally improved compared to the previous day, as 1,118 villages in 42 revenue circles are currently submerged, with approximately 8,469.56 hectares of crop areas damaged. 4 318 children and 41 283 women are among the 81,352 individuals who are being housed in the 220 relief camps and distribution centres that the authorities are running in 11 districts. The administration has been distributing essential relief items, such as rice, dal, salt, mustard oil, cattle feed, baby food, tarpaulin, phenyl, candles, and sanitary napkins, to the affected population.
Moreover, extensive erosion has been witnessed in several districts, including Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Dhubri, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Nalbari, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, and Udalguri. Additionally, a landslide incident was reported in the Karimganj district. Floodwaters have affected embankments at 15 locations in Biswanath, Golaghat, Kamrup, and Nalbari districts, while roads have been damaged in multiple districts, including Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Golaghat, Kamrup, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Nalbari, and Tamulpur.
The floods have also had a significant impact on the livelihood of the people, with nearly 964 poultry washed away in Bajali and Nalbari districts. Moreover, approximately 410,055 animals, including small and large livestock as well as poultry, have been affected in nine districts over the past 24 hours.
The state government, along with the assistance of national disaster response teams and the central government, is making concerted efforts to provide relief and rescue operations to the affected population. The authorities are closely monitoring the situation and striving to minimize the damage caused by the floods in Assam.
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