Assam floods, landslides claim 71 lives across 33 districts

Floods and resultant landslides in Assam have claimed 71 lives this year so far. The state of Assam has been facing floods and landslides for eight days starting from June 13. In the last 24 hours, 33 districts viz Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Hojai, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Karbi Anglong West, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri district has reported floods.

As per CWC (Central Water Commission) bulletin, rivers namely Kopili (at Kampur, Nagaon) is flowing above High Flood Level; the Brahmaputra (at Neamatighat, Jorhat, at Tezpur, Sonitpur, at Guwahati, Kamrup, at Goalpara, Goalpara, at Dhubri, Dhubri, Subansiri (Badatighat, Lakhimpur); Kopili (at Dharamtul, Nagaon; Puthimati (at NH Road Crossing, Kamrup); Pagladia (at NT Road Crossing, Nalbari); Manas (at NH Road Crossing, Barpeta); Beki ( at Road Bridge, Barpeta) is flowing above the danger level. Barak (at BP Ghat, Karimganj, at AP Ghat, Cachar, at Matizuri, Hailakanndi) and Kushiyara (at Karimganj) are flowing above the danger level.

On Sunday night, two police officers were washed away in flood waters in Central Assam’s Nagaon district. The event occurred late Sunday night in the Kampur neighbourhood. According to authorities, when a team from Kampur police station led by the Officer-in-Charge of the police station went to investigate a case late Sunday night, two members of the squad, including the Officer-in-Charge, were carried away in flood waters. Although the body of a constable was found, the Officer-in-Charge of the Kampur police station remains missing. Rajib Bordoloi, the deceased police officer, was recognised, as was Samujjal Kakati, the missing police officer.

Flooding has affected a total of 127 income circles and 5,137 settlements. A total of 42,28,157 persons were affected, with 1,86,424 finding refuge in 744 rescue camps. Rescue items were also supplied to other impacted communities who were not seeking refuge in relief camps via 403 temporary relief distribution centers/points.

Meanwhile, in addition to our own SDRF, Fire & ES personnel, Police forces, AAPDA Mitra Volunteers of ASDMA, and others, the NDRF has been assisting the district government in the safe evacuation of individuals from impacted regions.

So far 29,743 people have been safely evacuated. Landslide incidents were reported under Cachar, Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Hailakandi, Kamrup (M) and Karimganj in the last 24 hrs. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma held a meeting with the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and the Sub-Divisional Officers (Civil) – SDOs on Monday to review the flood situation and disaster preparedness.

Taking to Twitter, he wrote, “In wake of ongoing situation of floods & to review preparedness, will connect with my cabinet colleagues, DCs and Civil SDOs on June 20, 9.30 am onwards from my office via VC.”