Flood awareness drives still a far cry

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, June 30: The Assam Government has failed to learn from the bitter experiences of last year’s floods when the death toll was 160. It was the highest during the previous several years. Most of the victims were due to human follies or accidents during the floods and landslides.

Already 32 people have died in floods and landslides during the first spate of floods that have affected mainly seven districts of the State so far, with the Barak Valley being the worst affected.

However, nothing has been done by the authorities concerned to bring about awareness among the affected public.

It is worth mentioning that the State Government had decided to carry out massive awareness campaigns among the public last year itself. The drives were to concentrate on precautionary measures to be taken during floods and landslides. But the Assam State disaster Management Authority failed to initiate action on this count.