CM Sarbananda Sonowal visits flood-hit Goalpara district, takes stock of situation

GUWAHATI: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the State Government would deal with the prevailing flood situation in pursuance of the new relief manual which would strengthen State Government's efforts to give relief and respite to the flood victims as well as fighting with the COVID-19 pandemic, stated a press release.

Visiting Goalpara on Friday, which has been hit by first wave of flood, Chief Minister Sonowal said that in view of the prevailing flood which has affected as many as 11 districts, the State Government would reach out to the flood affected people with the new relief manual which would also help the State government to battle against novel coronavirus pandemic. It may be noted that the first wave of flood has hit Goalpara very badly affecting around 2 lakh people in three revenue circles.

Chief Minister Sonowal while visiting Goalpara visited temporary relief camps set up at Agia Balijana Girls High School and Dwarka Primary School and interacted with the camp inmates there. He directed the Deputy Commissioner to provide adequate and good quality facilities like food, drinking water and medical help. He said that doctors should be visiting the relief centres and provide medical attention to the inmates present there. He also said that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic where in social distancing is regarded as the golden deterrent to keep the virus at bay, district administration should ensure strict adherence to the social distancing norms in the relief camps.

He however hailed the facilities made available in the relief camps including adherence of social distancing norms in the camps. Chief Minister Sonowal also visited integrated child development project office and took stock of the facilities put up for the children who are staying at the relief camps. He also talked to the ASHA workers and lauded their relentless services that they are rendering when the State is going through challenges like flood & erosion and coronavirus pandemic.

During his whirlwind visit to the district, Chief Minister Sonowal also visited the Agia-Lakhipur State Highway-12, a portion of which was completely washed away by the flood. He took stock of the extent of damage and asked the concerned officials to restore communication through that portion on a war-footing and repair the bridge part. He also asked the DC to oversee the process and report to him at the earliest.

Chief Minister Sonowal also visited a quarantine centre set up at Ayurvedic Hospital, Dudhnoi during his visit to the district. He also handed over cheques amounting to Rs. 4 lakh rupees each to the next of the kin of the four deceased who lost their lives during the flood.

Further, during a brief meeting with all the departmental heads of the district, Chief Minister Sonowal urged upon the Deputy Commissioner and other functionaries to work in such a way so that Goalpara can set a model in the fight against flood and novel coronavirus. He asked the power department to foresee any danger and work accordingly to avert electrocuted death during flood. He also asked all officials to work relentlessly so that the fruits of governance can reach to all sections of the people equally and to ensure that the prevailing situation does not create inequality and exclusion among the people.