Amit Shah holds phone call with CM Sarma, enquires about Assam's flood situation
Guwahati, June 29
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday held a phone call with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, taking cognisance of the flood situation in Dhemaji district of the state.
CM Sarma shared a post on 'X' and informed about the development. He briefed Shah about the relief and rehabilitation measures being taken by the state government to tackle the situation and informed him that the Union Home Minister assured him of all the possible assistance and support from the Centre in the matter.
"I thank Hon'ble Home Minister Amit Shah for his phone call and enquiring about the flood situation in Dhemaji. I have briefed him on the relief and rehabilitation measures presently underway. He has also assured us all possible support and assistance from the Government of India to deal with this situation," he said.
The first wave of floods in Assam has affected over 22,000 people across six districts, following continuous heavy rainfall in the state and the neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, officials said on Sunday.A railway bridge over the Simen river in Assam's Dhemaji district partially collapsed, a Northeast Frontier Railway official said on Sunday.The collapse occured due to heavy rainfall and the erosion of the riverbank. According to an official statement by the Northeast Frontier Railway CPRO, on account of excessive rainfall of more than 110 mm in and around Dhemaji district of Assam and subsequent flooding and bank erosions affecting the railway bridge, the section between Archipathar and Simen Chapari stations has been suspended for train operation.
According to the data released by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), a total of 22,124 people have been hit by the deluge in the districts of Dhemaji, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Lakhimpur, and Kokrajhar.
Dhemaji remains the worst-affected district, where 15,483 people are currently reeling under the impact of the rising water levels.
The statement also said that the floodwaters have submerged 96 villages and destroyed approximately 1,690 hectares of crop area.
Incessant rainfall has also caused the Brahmaputra River and its tributaries to swell. The ASDMA report highlighted that the water level of the Disang River is currently flowing above the danger level mark at Nanglamuraghat in the Sivasagar district.
Beyond the human impact, the current wave of floods has also impacted 48,199 animals.Earlier, a railway bridge over the Simen river in Assam's Dhemaji district partially collapsed, a Northeast Frontier Railway official confirmed.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Every year same story - floods, collapsed bridges, affected villages. While phone calls are appreciated, our governments need to invest in flood management infrastructure properly. 22,000 people affected is not a small number. Let's hope this is not just political optics.
Heartbreaking to see 48,000 animals affected too. Assam's ecosystem is so fragile. CM Sarma and HM Shah coordinating is good, but we need long-term climate adaptation plans for the Northeast. The Brahmaputra is swelling every year with heavier rainfall 🌊
Finally some attention to the Northeast! Dhemaji is always worst-hit because of its geography. The Simen river bridge collapse shows how fragile our infrastructure is. Hope the railway restoration happens fast and the evacuated people get proper shelter and food.
Interesting to see the Home Minister directly engaging with state leadership during a natural disaster. This kind of Center-State coordination is exactly what India needs more of. The 22,000 affected figure is concerning though - hope the relief machinery is fully mobilized.
While I appreciate the concern, phone calls alone won't save lives. We need proper flood shelters, stockpiled relief materials, and quick disbursal of compensation. 1,690 hectares of crops destroyed means farmers will suffer for months. Let's see concrete action now.
S We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.