17 Dead, Over 44 Lakh Affected due to Floods in Assam
- Jul 17, 2019,
- Updated Jul 17, 2019, 1:43 AM IST
Guwahati, July 16, 2019:
Union Minister Jal Shakti Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited Assam for a first-hand assessment of the flood situation. Govt. of India also released Rs. 251.55 Cr. being the first installment of SDRF to Assam yesterday.
Shekhawat today reviewed the Flood situation in the State of Assam in presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, Keshab Mahanta , Minister of Water Resources Govt Of Assam; Bhabesh Kalita, Minister of State for Revenue and Disaster Management, Alok Kumar, Chief Secretary and the Senior Officials of Assam Government at a meeting in the Office of the Regional Executive Director, Airport Authority of India, LGBI Airport, Guwahati. The State Government informed about the present status of the flood in the state. As of today, total 4,620 villages in 124 revenue circles of all 32 districts of Assam have been affected in the Flood.
In this season, total of 17 persons have lost their lives due to flood in the districts of Dhemaji (2), Golaghat (3), Barpeta (1), Jorhat (2), Dhubri (1), Goalpara (1), Morigaon (4), Nagaon (2) and Hailakandi (1) and 2 persons lost their lives due to landslide in Kamrup (M) and Dima Hasao district.
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This year, about 44.96 Lakhs of people have been affected in the Flood in the 33 districts till date. Presently, 226 Relief Camps are operational with 1,01,085 inmates and 562 Relief Distribution Centres are functioning in the State.
NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and SDRF (State Disaster Response Force) teams have been pressed into service in the flood-affected areas for search and rescue operations. NDRF team with rescue boats (459 + personnel with boats) have been placed in 16 locations and SDRF has been deployed in 40 locations (338 personnel with rescue boats) of the state.
The Chief Minister requested the Union Minister to take early steps for the constitution of North East Water Management Authority recommended by High-Level Committee headed by Vice-Chairman NITI Ayog. He also requested to include river erosion in the list of admissible natural calamities under SDRF. The Govt. of Assam will submit an interim Memorandum shortly on damage caused. Union Minister assured that a Central Team will visit the State soon to assess the damage caused.
Government of Assam is taking all possible steps to provide assistance to the flood-affected people of the state as per the norms. The Chief Minister has been continuously reviewing the flood situation in the State and has instructed all Ministers, MPs, MLAs, and representatives of Local bodies to keep a close watch on the flood situation and requested to render necessary assistance to the flood victims.
CM Sonowal has further directed all Deputy Commissioners to provide sufficient relief materials and make necessary arrangements for drinking water, baby food, medical teams and medicines, and cattle fodder. Fund amounting to Rs.75.95 Cr. has been released so far to the districts as advance by the State Government. Further, directions have been issued to provide ex gratia to the next of kin of the deceased persons within 48 hrs.
Besides, opening relief camps, Gratuitous relief have also been distributed through Relief Distribution Centres.
Approximately, 90 % area of Kaziranga National Park is affected in this wave of flood. Animals have moved to the high land and Forest officials along with district & Sub-divisional administration are on alert. Green fodder has also been distributed for the animals.
Earlier during the day, Shekhawat did an aerial survey of the flood-affected areas of the districts of Upper Assam mainly Dibrugarh, Lakhimpur, Majuli by Helicopter and discussed the situation with the officials of District administration and concerned departments. Shekhawat also visited the relief camps of Majuli and gave the inhabitants an assurance of full assistance from the Central Government.
Gajendra Singh Shekhawat addressed the local and national media houses during his visit to the state and assured all support of the Government to deal with the situation.