By Nava Thakuria*
Guwahati: There is no reprieve from the flood situation in Assam which remains grim as incessant rainfall continues affecting over 2.4 million population in 30 districts.
The second wave of flood in Assam inundated over 2200 villages, following which thousands of families took shelter in 700 relief camps set up by the administration.
According to the State Disaster Management Authority, at least 64 people died in the flood along with landslides and storms, which also destroyed many embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructures. The muddy flood water inundated more than 63000 hectares of crop area and the deluge devastated 8,50,000 livestock and poultry in the State.
Besides Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Mizoram are also witnessing relentless rains and subsequent floods for more than a week. The residents of Lakhimpur, Darrang, Golaghat, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Biswanath, Cachar, Charaideo, Chirang, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Kamrup and Kamrup (metropolitan), Karbi Anglong, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Kokrajhar, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tamulpur, Tinsukia, Udalguri, Dhubri and Goalpara districts of Assam are facing major flood-related difficulties in the last few days.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been visiting flood-affected areas in different parts of the State to review the ground situation. Sarma visited Dibrugarh district on July 5, 2024, and took stock of the situation in the urban areas and some outskirt localities.
He also visited some relief camps and interacted with the families taking shelter there after directing the district administration to ensure the timely supply of essential items in the relief camps. Earlier, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also assessed the flood situation in Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts and assured the people that both the governments in New Delhi and Dispur are looking for a permanent solution to the region’s recurring flood problem.
Assam Governor Gulab Chand Kataria also visited the flood-affected Morigaon district and spent time with the flood-hit people of Bhuragaon village. He directed the district administration to reach out to the flood victims with proper relief materials including medical facilities. Sarma earlier visited Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve and took stock of flood preparedness at the world heritage site. No less than 173 forest camps inside the park have gone under the flood water from the mighty Brahmaputra river on the northern side. Over 75 wild animals, including a rhino calf, drowned in Kaziranga, as the authorities rescued 94 animals.
The safe habitat for the largest population of single horn rhinos in the world eventually experiences flooding every year and subsequently, the precious animals cross the National Highway-715 on its southern border to climb the hilly areas of Karbi Anglong. As many inmates die while crossing the highway by speeding vehicles, the authorities have instructed the drivers to maintain a safe speed limit. Often the vehicles are escorted by the forest officials while crossing the park to avoid any accidents with the fleeing animals.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already assured full cooperation to the State government to deal with the natural disaster. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also called Sarma to reassure all possible support from the Centre. Sarma directed the State ministers, legislators and concerned officials to monitor the situation closely and take necessary initiatives urgently. State ministers namely Pijush Hazarika, Bimal Bora, Ranoj Pegu, Jayanta Mallaburuah, Jogen Mahan, Atul Bora, Keshav Mahanta, Ranjeet Kumar Dass with others visited the affected villages and reviewed the rescue and relief operations.
*Senior journalist
