Assam flood situation grim, over 31 lakh affected

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma held a virtual conference with Deputy Commissioners and asked them to provide relief and ensure the rehabilitation of affected people at the earliest

Assam's flood situation worsened with more than 31 lakh people affected and 12 deaths during the last 24 hours. Many parts of Cachar's Silchar town remained under water for over eleven days on Thursday, officials said. The death toll due to flood and landslides this year has increased to 151.

The number of affected population increased to 31.54 lakh in 26 districts as against the previous day's 24.92 lakh. The Brahmaputra at many places including Beki, Kopili, Barak and Kushiyara were flowing above the danger level though most other rivers showed a receding trend.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a virtual conference with Deputy Commissioners on Thursday and asked them to provide relief and ensure the rehabilitation of affected people at the earliest. Mr. Sarma also directed them to make a speedy assessment of damages caused by floods so that adequate compensation can be paid to affected people.

The Chief Minister said that a timeline has been set to assess the damages in each district by July 15 which will be endorsed by the guardian ministers and secretaries by July 20, after which compensation will be distributed to affected people. The entire process is expected to be completed by August 15.

In Silchar, several areas of the town are still waterlogged and the situation remained critical with shortage of food, drinking water and medicines faced by affected people.

Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli said that continuous work was going on to repair the damaged portion of the dyke breached at Bethukundi which led to waterlogging in the town. Work is also going on to repair the breached dyke at Barjuri under Katigorah revenue circle of Cachar district, she added.

She said that priority was being given to reach the affected people with clean drinking water and food while medical camps are being organised by the health department in all the 28 municipal wards to ensure prevention of water-borne diseases.