Assam flood: 80,000 yet to receive relief as villages are cut off, says CM Himanta Sarma
Guwahati, July 24
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that nearly 80,000 people stranded in the worst flood-hit parts of Upper Assam are yet to receive relief, as rescue agencies continue efforts to reach marooned villages cut off by unprecedented flooding.
Addressing the media persons here, the Chief Minister said around 50,000 people in Nazira and another 30,000 in Sivasagar remain inaccessible despite large-scale rescue and relief operations underway across the state.
"There are around 50,000 people in Nazira and nearly 30,000 people in Sivasagar whom the government has not yet been able to reach with relief. The flood situation has improved slightly, but these areas remain inaccessible," Sarma said.
He noted that water levels have shown signs of receding in several places, but connectivity to a number of remote villages continues to remain disrupted, posing challenges for relief agencies.
The Chief Minister said teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Army and district administrations are making sustained efforts to access the isolated areas by boats and other available means.
Expressing confidence that relief would soon reach all affected residents, Sarma said the administration is continuously monitoring the situation and deploying additional resources wherever necessary.
He also confirmed that the flood-related death toll in the state has risen to 50, while cautioning that the figure could increase as search operations continue and several people are still reported missing.
The Chief Minister further said the floods have severely affected electricity infrastructure, leaving more than 60,000 households without power supply in different parts of the state. Restoration work is underway, although access constraints in inundated areas have delayed repairs.
Sarma announced that an inter-ministerial team from the Central government is scheduled to arrive in Assam on Saturday to undertake an on-ground assessment of the flood damage and review the requirement for financial assistance and rehabilitation measures.
Upper Assam districts, particularly Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat, have witnessed some of the worst flooding this season following heavy rainfall and inflows from upstream rivers, prompting extensive rescue and relief operations.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Every year same story – Assam floods and then delayed relief. Infrastructure needs to be more flood-resilient. But kudos to the rescue teams working in difficult conditions.
As someone from Assam, I see the government trying, but the scale is massive. 50 deaths and 60,000 without power is alarming. Central team's visit is good, but they should have come earlier. 🤔
The CM is at least being transparent about the 80,000 unreached. Compare that to some other states that hide numbers. Still, need more boats and helicopters for remote villages. 🚁
It's sad that every flood season brings this same news. The government needs long-term solutions – better embankments, early warning systems, and permanent relief centers. Praying for Assam. 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.