Modi-Sonowal telephonic meet: PM assures all help for Assam floods & Baghjan fire

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday telephoned Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and took stock of flood, erosion, COVID-19 and Baghjan oil well fire situation in the State. The Prime Minister expressed solidarity with the people of Assam during these difficult times and enquired about the steps taken by the State Government for the relief and rehabilitation of flood affected people and treatment of COVID-19 positive patients in the State.

During the conversation, the Chief Minister Sonowal apprised the Prime Minister that 26 districts of the State had been effected by the current wave of flood and the State government had taken steps for providing shelter to the flood effected people in the relief camps set up for the purpose and strict adherence to COVID-19 protocols had been ensured in those relief camps. The Chief Minister also informed that huge areas including farm lands and houses had been severely affected by the erosion caused by Brahmaputra and its tributaries. The district administrations had been readied to tackle the problems of flood and erosion and the Chief Minister himself had been visiting different places to monitor and assess the damages caused by flood and erosion and the rescue and rehabilitation operations carried out, he said.

Informing about the COVID-19 scenario in the state, the Chief Minister apprised Prime Minister Modi that the number of positive cases was increasing in the state as a result of ramping up of testing capacity by the health department. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the health department would be able to handle the situation even if the number of positive cases goes up rapidly in the near future. Constant interactions were held with the doctors, nurses and all other COVID-19 warriors and medical colleges in the state had also been directed to strengthen the COVID-19 treatment facility in a video conference held recently, he informed. Sonowal also said that many inmates in state's jails had also been detected as COVID-19 positive and necessary steps had been initiated to ensure proper treatment of those inmates.

Referring to the Baghjan oil well fire incident, the Chief Minister informed that Union Petroleum Ministry had been persistently carrying out activities to completely douse the fire and the State Government was extending all cooperation in this regard.

The Prime Minister said that the Central Government was keeping a close watch on flood, erosion, COVID-19 and the Baghjan situation in the State; and had been standing closely with the people of Assam during these difficult times. He also assured all help and cooperation from the Central Government in managing these challenges, stated a release.

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