At least five more people, including four children, died after drowning in the flood waters in Assam in the last 24 hours. Barpeta, Cachar, Darrang, Karimganj and Morigaon districts recorded one death each as over 22 lakh people still remain affected.
The total number of people losing their lives in this year’s flood and landslides in the state has now gone up to 126. Of these, over 17 were killed in landslides.
(Photo: India Today)
Barpeta is the worst affected district, with nearly seven lakh people in distress, followed by Nagaon (5.13 lakh people) and Cachar (over 2.77 lakh people).
The districts affected by flood are Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Cachar, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Dima Hasao, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Hojai, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong West, Karimganj, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur and Udalguri.
(Photo: India Today)
Floodwaters have affected crops on 74,706 hectares across the state. What used to be green paddy fields of hope have now turned into a sea of despair.
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As many as 2,17,413 people are languishing in 564 relief camps all over the state. Lost somewhere under the swelling waters, people have been forced to stay in these makeshift camps.
The Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and other state agencies are still continuing their rescue and relief operations though the flood waters are receding and the overall situation has shown signs of improvement in all the affected districts of the state.
(Photo: India Today)
However, as a matter of concern, the river Kopili continues to flow above the danger level mark in Nagaon district.
A total of 2,77,158 people remained to be affected in Cachar district, with at least 96,972 people in Silchar still suffering. Over 1.09 lakh people are still housed in 230 relief camps in the district, including 25,223 in Silchar.
(Photo: India Today)
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday visited Silchar town to monitor the flood situation. During his visit, which is the second within two days, CM Sarma inspected inundated areas including Malini Beel, Public School Road, Radhamadhab Road, Kanakpur, Rangirkhari, Sonai Road, National Highway and Tarapur and interacted with the people who have been left devastated by the calamity.
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The chief minister later chaired a meeting with senior officials to review the flood situation and gave instructions for providing proper medical facilities to the people in distress. He also informed that 15-20 doctors would be sent to Silchar from Guwahati soon. CM Sarma instructed that a health camp be conducted in each and every municipal ward of the town, besides directing the health department to provide medicines to people’s houses at least for the next seven days.
(Photo: India Today)
The chief minister reviewed the status of electricity supply in Silchar and directed the Assam Power Distribution Company Limited (APDCL) officials to restore power supply step by step in the town. CM Sarma also asked the NDRF and SDRF personnel to continue their efforts to the best possible extent to reach various areas and rescue people stranded in flooded places.
CM Sarma also informed us that arrangements are being made to send one thousand litres of kerosene and adequate vegetables and animal medicine from Guwahati to Silchar. He also said that the boats, which are presently available with the administration, should deliver one kit containing a match box, candle, baby food and other essential items to various areas per visit.