Over 55 lakh people affected in Assam flood

The flood situation in Assam continued with rising water levels of the Brahmaputra and Barak rivers inundating fresh areas in the state and impacting over 55 lakh people across 32 districts, officials said on Wednesday. Eighty-nine people have lost their lives since mid-May. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma traveled to Nagaon by train to review the flood situation in the district.

Nagaon was severely affected by the current wave of floods with over 4,57,381 people coming under the impact of the deluge and 15,188 inmates have taken shelter in 147 relief camps.

“Undertook a train journey from Guwahati to flood-affected areas in Chaparmukh and Kampur. The journey enabled me to take a closer look at the areas ravaged by flood along the railway tracks, which will help us in taking informed decisions and intervene accordingly,” Sarma said on Twitter.

He also visited Chaparmukh railway station to interact with flood-affected people.

“Assuring them all possible help, I asked the district administration to ensure adequate relief to the affected people & be on stand-by,” he said.

Ambassador of Japan to India Satoshi Suzuki expressed sympathy to the families who lost their “beloved ones and are affected by the recent floods and landslides occurring in Assam and Meghalaya”.

“Japan always stands with the people in such difficult times,” Satoshi said on Twitter.

The CM thanked him for expressing his concern for the state and the people affected by the current wave of floods.

“We sincerely acknowledge the support and cooperation of Japan and its beautiful people towards the development of our state,” Sarma said on the microblogging site.

Oil India Ltd has contributed Rs 5 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Large-scale erosion of river banks was reported from Baksa, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Dhubri, Hailakandi, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri districts.