Eight people, including three children, were reported missing after a boat capsized in Hojai district on June 17
Assam was reeling under devastating flooding caused by incessant rain, affecting nearly 31 lakh people in 32 districts. On June 17, 18.94 lakh people were involved in 28 districts. In comparison, officials said another eight people died on June 18, bringing the toll to 63. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Prime Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to take stock of the situation. The CM has also visited some relief camps where affected people in the Kamrup and Darrang districts were cared for.
The toll from the current second wave of floods and landslides in the state has risen to 63 as two deaths each were reported from Barpeta and Karimganj, while one each died in Darrang, Hailakandi, Nalbari, and Sonitpur districts. Eight people, including three children, were reported missing after a boat capsized in Hojai district on June 17. They are from Hojai, Bajali, West Karbi Anglong, Kokrajhar, and Tamulpur districts. A total of 21 people were rescued there.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi called the Prime Minister to inquire about the current flooding situation in the state and assured him of all assistance from the Center. Mr. Sarma visited the flooded town of Rangia in Kamrup district with BJP state president and local MLA Bhabesh Kalita. He also visited relief camps at Fatima Convent School and Kolajal, where affected people have found shelter. Speaking to the media, Mr. Sarma said that the district administration is ready to face any emergency and help the people affected by the flood.
View | Why does Assam flood every year?
A video explaining why Assam experiences flooding year after year, the factors leading to it | Video credits: The Hindu “The government has been ordered to provide relief supplies and to evacuate people from vulnerable areas to relief camps. The military stands ready to assist, and the deputy commissioners have been asked to call for assistance when needed. NDRF and SDRF personnel are evacuating affected people to safer places,” he said. The CM assured the inmates of the relief camps that all steps were being taken to help them.
In the Darrang district, Sarma waded through floodwaters and explored the ruptured banks at Patharughat and Bor Athiabari. He ordered the officials involved to fix it after the water receded. The army has deployed 11 columns to assist in rescue and relief operations in Hojai, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Darrang, Tamulpur, and Kamrup districts and has rescued 3,000 people far. The Central Water Commission (CWC) bulletin of June 18 stated that the Kopili River flows above ‘High Flood Level’ in Nagaon District, while other rivers such as the Brahmaputra, Jia-Bharali, Puthimari, Pagladia, Manas, Beki, Barak and Kushiara flow above the danger level in several places.
According to a report by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on June 18, a population of 30.99 lacks has been affected in 32 districts. In total, 118 income groups and 4,291 villages were affected by the disaster. According to the bulletin, the districts of Barpeta, Darrang, Goalpara, Hailakandi, Kamrup(M), Nalbari, and Udalguri have also been hit hard by urban flooding. According to the ASDMA, a total acreage of 66455.12 hectares has been flooded, while 441 animals have been washed away in the current wave of flooding.
During the day, landslides were reported from Cachar, Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Hailakandi, South Salmar, and Kamrup (Metro) districts. More than 1.56 lakh people have sought shelter in 514 relief camps. Relief supplies were distributed to other affected populations, not in such centers. Infrastructure damage was also reported from various parts of the state, as 216 roads, five bridges, and four riverbanks were damaged during the day.
