Assam floods triggered by excess rainfall, situation still grim: Himanta Sarma
Guwahati, July 25
Assam Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Saturday claimed the current wave of floods in the state has been caused by an unprecedented spell of rainfall rather than conventional riverine flooding, with over 400 per cent excess rain leading to widespread devastation across villages and towns.
Addressing reporters after reviewing the flood situation with senior officials and deputy commissioners of the affected districts, Sarma said nearly 11 lakh people in more than 2,000 villages have been affected, while the administration continues to intensify relief and rescue operations.
"The scale of the floods this time is unprecedented. It was not the conventional flooding, but a sudden 400 per cent-plus excess rainfall that resulted in such large-scale devastation," the Chief Minister said.
Describing the overall situation as "grim", Sarma said ministers have been deployed in flood-affected districts to supervise relief work and coordinate with local authorities.
He added that he would revisit the worst-hit areas over the next two to three days to assess the ground situation.
According to the Chief Minister, over 41,000 people are currently staying in 162 relief camps set up across the state. He said the government has distributed more than 14,000 quintals of rice, 2,000 quintals of dal and 58,820 litres of mustard oil, besides other essential relief materials, and the distribution drive is continuing in affected areas.
To strengthen rescue and relief measures, the state government has released more than Rs 111 crore to district administrations, with additional financial assistance to be provided wherever necessary, Sarma said.
He directed officials to remain on high alert as several rivers continue to flow above or close to the danger mark. Mobile medical teams from the Health and Animal Husbandry departments have also been deployed to prevent disease outbreaks and provide treatment to affected people and livestock.
Sarma said he would hold discussions with the Indian Army and the Indian Air Force to improve access to marooned villages and enhance aerial relief distribution.
He also announced that a Central team would soon visit Assam to assess the flood damage, while state assessment teams would begin uploading real-time loss data through a mobile application.
Expressing confidence in the state's resilience, the Chief Minister said Assam would overcome the crisis with the support of the Centre and assured that every affected family would receive assistance in rebuilding their lives.
— IANS
Reader Comments
I'm glad the government is at least trying - deploying ministers, releasing Rs 111 crore, setting up camps. But 41,000 people in relief camps is still a huge number. The mention of mobile medical teams is good, but disease outbreaks like diarrhea and skin infections are common after floods. Also, animal health teams are necessary because livestock is the only livelihood for many. Hope the Army and IAF can reach the marooned villages soon. 🙏
The CM's explanation about 400% excess rainfall sounds like passing the buck to nature. While it's true that climate change is causing erratic weather, the state should have been better prepared. Every year we hear the same story - floods, destruction, relief camps, and then the cycle repeats. Where is the comprehensive flood management plan? Dams in upstream states? Better forecasting? Assam needs a permanent solution, not just annual bandaids. 😔
Living in Guwahati, I can see the situation firsthand. The rain has been relentless - no breaks for weeks. But I'm worried about the long-term effects. Even after the water recedes, there will be crop loss, damaged homes, and economic hardship for months. The govt distributing rice and dal is good, but 58,820 litres of mustard oil for 11 lakh people? That's barely 50ml per person. We need more sustained relief, not just initial aid. Still, appreciate the efforts of rescue workers. 🙏
The real issue is that Assam has become a dumping ground for water from neighboring states and countries. Unplanned development, deforestation in hills, and poor river management upstream all contribute. The CM mentioning discussions with Army and Air Force is good, but why not talk to other state governments about coordinated water release? Also, the real-time loss data app is a good idea - at least the compensation process should be transparent and quick. Let's see if it works. 🤞