Shivraj Chouhan, Kiren Rijiju visit flood-hit Assam, assure speedy rehabilitation (Lead)
Guwahati, July 1
Union Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Union Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Wednesday visited flood-ravaged areas in Assam's Jonai subdivision and assured affected families of swift rehabilitation and restoration of essential services.
The two Union Ministers first inspected flood-affected areas in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh before travelling to Assam, where they reviewed the damage caused by the swollen Simen River.
They visited the railway bridge over the Simen River at Simen Chapori, which was damaged due to the strong current triggered by incessant rainfall in the upstream areas.
The Ministers later toured some of the worst-affected villages under Talem Gram Panchayat in the Jonai Assembly constituency, including Arun Chapori, Madhupur, Jonkareng, Chiker Chelek and Lohitpariya. They interacted with residents, assessed the extent of the damage and heard first-hand accounts of the hardships being faced by flood-hit families.
During the visit, Chouhan assured the affected people that the Centre would work with the state government to address issues related to drinking water supply, road connectivity, restoration of flood-damaged agricultural land and other essential infrastructure. He also assured that efforts would be made to ensure the early rehabilitation of displaced families.
The Ministers reviewed the overall flood situation and took stock of the immediate relief measures being carried out in the affected areas.
Large parts of the Assam-Arunachal border region in Jonai have witnessed widespread devastation following days of heavy rainfall, which caused several mountain-fed rivers to overflow.
According to local authorities, more than 20 villages and over 500 families have been affected by the floods. Although floodwaters have started receding in many places, normal life remains severely disrupted.
Residents continue to face shortages of safe drinking water, food supplies and healthcare services. Flood debris, including logs, silt and other waste carried downstream by swollen rivers, continues to block access to many homes.
Several houses remain inundated with water and mud, making it difficult for families to return to normal life despite an improvement in the flood situation.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's encouraging that central ministers are on the ground so quickly. The railway bridge damage near Simen Chapori is critical for connectivity in this remote border region. Hope the rehabilitation isn't just photo-op driven—real work begins when the cameras leave.
As someone from Assam, I appreciate the Center's involvement, but why always after devastation? 😣 Our rivers have been flooding for decades—what about long-term solutions like dredging, embankments, and early warning systems? Providing drinking water and food is temporary; saving lives and livelihoods should be permanent.
More than 500 families affected—that's staggering for just one subdivision. The mention of food and healthcare shortages is deeply concerning. I hope the state government coordinates effectively with the Center to ensure relief reaches the most remote villages like Arun Chapori and Madhupur.
Chaar baar flood aata hai lekin koi permanent solution nahi banata! 😤 Every year same story—ministers visit, assure, then next monsoon we see the same devastation. Why not invest in climate-resilient agriculture and elevated housing for riverine areas? Rijiju ji, being from Arunachal, should understand this better.
The scale of destruction along the Assam-Arunachal border is heartbreaking. Especially worrying is the damage to agricultural land—these are small farmers losing their only source of income. The government must expedite compensation and provide seeds and fertilizers for the next planting season.
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