Death Toll in Assam Rises to 86; 1,348 Villages Still Deluge-Hit
The calamity has also claimed the lives of hundreds of animals, including 16 rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park.
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Four more people died on Monday, 29 July, due to floods in Assam, mounting the toll to 86 this monsoon season. The overall situation, however, improved with the water level in all 17 affected districts showing a receding trend since Sunday, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said, according to PTI.
Of the fresh four deaths, two were reported from Barpeta and one each from Kokrajhar and Dhubri districts.
The Federation of Industry and Commerce of North Eastern Region (FINER) on Monday made a contribution of Rs 10 lakh to the Chief Ministers Relief Fund, officials said. Office bearers of the Kamakhya temple also donated Rs 5 lakh to the fund, they said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday, 19 July, assured a delegation of MPs from Assam of all central assistance to the flood-hit state, after the 10 MPs had called on him to apprise about the flood situation in the state and urged requested financial assistance to tide over the crisis.
THE SITUATION IN ASSAM
The rivers flowing at danger level in Assam are the Brahmaputra at Neamatighat (Jorhat) and Dhubri, the Jia Bharali at N T Road Crossing (Sonitpur), the Puthimari at N H Road Crossing (Kamrup) and the Beki at Road Bridge (Barpeta), the ASDMA said.
The affected districts are Dhemaji, Sonitpur, Darrang, Baksa, Barpeta, Nalbari, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kamrup, Kamrup (Metro), Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat and Cachar.
The situation in Assam remains critical as the surging waters of the mighty Brahmaputra and its tributaries continued flowing above the danger mark.
Altogether 1,348 villages in 50 revenue circles of the 17 districts are still deluge-hit, the ASDMA said.
About 50,470 inmates are still in 522 relief camps while 28 relief distribution centres are operational in various districts of the state, the ASDMA said, according to PTI.
RESCUE OPERATIONS IN PLACE
A highly trained and well-equipped flood relief column of the Indian Army has undertaken a massive humanitarian aid and disaster relief operation.
The Army toiled hard and rescued 150 stranded civilians, including 60 women and children, and took them to safety on Wednesday, 24 July.
The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, which are famous Rhinoceros habitats, too remained flooded, forcing the animals to take shelter in artificial highlands for safety.
He also interacted with the Rhino Protection Force at the national park and monitored the situation on the National Highway 37, which is being used by these animals to reach the highland.
About 90 percent of Kaziranga National Park is presently inundated, as per a release by the Assam Ministry of Forest and Environment. However, the flood water level is receding in the Kaziranga National Park.
Infrastructure such as embankments, roads and bridges among others have suffered damaged in various districts of the state.
ASSISTANCE FROM THE CENTRE
Furthermore, 15 teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) with 38 deep divers, 48 IRB boats and other life-saving aids are deployed for rescue operations, PTI reported, quoting RS Gill, Officiating Commandant at the 1st Battalion of NDRF.
Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat told reporters on Thursday, 18 July, that the government will conduct a topographical study of the state to understand the reasons behind the inundation.
The Army, in a statement on Tuesday, said that a total of 95 flood relief columns along with additional 31 columns as reserve have been "kept on stand by" for relief work. It has also deployed helicopters to help with the rescue efforts.
However, many people alleged that they were not being provided with adequate relief items or accommodation in the camps forcing some of them to live in boats, reported PTI.
Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the administration probably did not anticipate the enormity of the deluge and that led to shortage of relief materials in some camps.
Enquiries will be made into these charges, he said.
The state government has asked district authorities to keep a strict vigil on the price rise as the vegetables are becoming costlier in the state since the deluge hit Assam about two weeks ago.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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