Over 1 lakh hit in floods, CM reviews situation

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, July 9: Chief Minister Sarbanda Sonowal today reviewed the flood situation in the State, asking officials of the concerned departments to gear up for relief operations on a war footing, at a high level meeting at the Assam Secretariat here today.

Over 1.05 lakh people in five districts have been hit in the current wave of floods. The Brahmaputra is flowing above danger level at Jorhat and Dhubri, while the Dhansiri is flowing above the red mark in Golaghat.

Over 1,000 displaced people are taking shelter in six relief camps – five of them in Jorhat.

Officials said severe erosion has been reported from Majuli.

The Chief Minister asked senior officials of the concerned departments to leave no stone unturned to reach out to flood-affected people and to provide relief to them, particularly to women and infants.

Sonowal asked the Health and Family Welfare department to keep sufficient stock of medicines and directed the Public Health Engineering department to provide pure drinking water in flood-affected areas.

Sonowal also asked the Chief Secretary to issue necessary instructions to deputy commissioners of affected districts to provide all necessary help and support to flood-hit people, especially in marooned areas, and to look after the needs of women and children, particularly infants.

The Chief Minister asked the Chief Secretary to convey to the deputy commissioners about the need to keep sufficient number of country boats ready for pressing into service during rescue operations.

Sonowal also asked the Veteriry and Animal Husbandry department to keep sufficient stock of fodder for livestock and to provide fodder in affected areas.

The Chief Minister asked the concerned departments about the pressing need to provide proper sanitation in relief camps.

Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia told the Chief Minister that there is no dearth of funds and Dispur had allotted the necessary funds to deputy commissioners much in advance to tackle the flood situation vis-a-vis relief operation.

The Minister for Water Resources Keshab Mahanta said that his department has taken up measures to strengthen some of the embankments and to plug breaches wherever possible.

The Chief Minister was also apprised about the relief operation being carried out in water-logged areas of Guwahati city.