Union home minister Amit Shah spoke to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as the flood situation remains grim, said the minister on Sunday. Over four lakh people have been hit by the deluge across nine districts, even though water levels started to recede, said an official, reported news agency PTI. According to Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), three persons have lost their lives in this year's first wave of flood in different parts of the state, the report added.
“Due to heavy rain, the people in parts of Assam are braving a flood-like situation. I have spoken to CM Shri @himantabiswa Ji and assured all possible assistance,” tweeted Shah.
“NDRF teams are already on the ground conducting relief and rescue operations and adequate forces are on standby,” he added.
“The Modi government stands firm as it has always been with the people of Assam in these difficult times,” the minister added.
As per a report by ASDMA, over 4,07,700 people are impacted by the deluge in Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nalbari and Udalguri districts.
Though the water level has started to recede, the same is not providing any relief to the residents or the authorities. The administration has been operating 101 relief camps in these districts, where 81,352 persons have taken shelter, and running 119 relief distribution centres in five districts, as per the report.
CM Sarma also said that his government was on high alert and providing assistance to the affected persons.
Responding to Shah’s tweet, Sarma said, “Gratitude Hon'ble Home Minister for your proactive response & concern regarding the flood situation in Assam. The Assam Government is on high alert and providing all assistance to the affected persons.”
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"Union Home Minister called me today and inquired about the flood situation in Assam. He said NDRF has been kept on stand-by and for any emergency Govt of India is there. I've told him that as of now the situation is under control and are constantly monitoring the situation," Sarma later told reporters.
“We are grateful to Hon PM Shri @narendramodi Ji for all the help to the state from the Government of India,” he added.
Currently, 1,118 villages are under water and 8,469.56 hectares of crop area have been damaged across Assam, ASDMA said, adding massive erosion was witnessed in Baksa, Barpeta, Sonitpur, Dhubri, Kamrup, Kokrajhar, Nalbari, South Salmara, and Udalguri, it said.
Embankments, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure have been damaged by flood waters in Darrang, Sonitpur, Kamrup, Golaghat, Nalbari, Barpeta, Baksa, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Goalpara, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Udalguri and Lakhimpur, the report said.