Assam floods: 45% of flood casualties in Assam are children

GUWAHATI: Children constitute nearly 45 per cent of the flood-related deaths across Assam this year. This has forced the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) to constitute a special committee to find out the causes.

Sources said that floods claimed 110 human lives between May 22 and August 3 this year. Around 49 of them are children accounting for 44.50 per cent of the total deaths.

"The majority of these cases are due to accidental drowning. Children often misjudge the strength of the current and many of them die while playing in the floodwater," the source pointed out.

Even though the administrations in different districts particularly Goalpara, Dhubri and Barpeta are holding awareness campaigns among the people and are issuing regular advisories in the pre-flood season, many people tend to ignore such advisories and warnings.

"While many children died after they fell into water while playing, some drowned while bathing in rivers. There were also instances of children falling from their beds while they were sleeping. These incidents are very common in the districts of lower and central Assam," the source said.

Official records available so far has found 13 flood-related deaths among children in Barpeta district followed by eight in Goalpara, five in Nagaon, four in Dhubri and three in Dhemaji.

The official associated with rescue and relief operations during floods in the State further said that children are much more susceptible to floods because they are unable to run to safety or gauge the depth of waters.

"It is a matter of serious concern that more children have died in floods this year. We will soon constitute a special committee to look into the causes," said the ASDMA official. During the 2019 floods, 32 of the102 casualties in Assam were those of children.

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