Assam Sees First Wave Of Flooding As Water Levels In Brahmaputra, Other Rivers Cross Danger Mark

Heavy rainfall in Assam over the last few days has resulted in the first wave of floods while the river Brahmaputra continues to flow above the 'Red' mark.

Owing to the onrush of huge water from upstream and the incessant rain, the water level in the Brahmaputra has been on the rise. Amid the first wave of flooding, the Chief Executive Officer of Assam State Disaster Management Authority, Gyanendra Dev Tripathi said that the government is fully prepared and has been working day and night to enhance flood preparedness. The Brahmaputra was flowing over the red mark in Nematighat in Jorhat district, reported news agency PTI while citing a Central Water Commission (CWC) morning report.

Heavy rainfall in the state over the last few days has resulted in the first wave of floods affecting the people.

According to PTI, damage or breach of embankments has been reported all over the state, with massive erosion also occurring in different parts. Other infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, and schools, were also submerged or damaged during the first wave of floods.

While talking to news agency ANI, Tripathi said, "Assam CM reviewed the flood preparedness last week and detailed instructions have been given to the Deputy Commissioners for enhancing the preparedness. We have made formal arrangements of sharing the data from neighbouring countries with district agencies, all the Deputy Commissioners as well as Central Water Commission."

"We are fully prepared and working day and night for enhancing preparedness. All the agencies including the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, NDRF, SDRF, Fire & Emergency Services, Central Water Commission, and IMD are alert," he added.

According to the official, Assam has been focused on more preparedness starting from January 2023. "We have done extensive deliberations and consultations with all the stakeholders, all the responding agencies, all the warning-giving agencies, all the information-providing agencies. We have done thematic discussions and thereafter we have done district preparedness, score card which has shown tremendous improvement over the preparedness that was last year. We have checked the preparedness this year, the districts are much better prepared in comparison to last year. We are fully geared up for dealing with flood situation," he mentioned

Talking about the recent flooding situation, Tripathi said, "During pre-monsoon, we didn't receive much rainfall and there was a huge deficit of rainfall. The monsoon was supposed to come from June 5, but it came on June 10 and some of the districts experienced some degree of floods particularly Lakhimpur district because of huge rainfall in neighbouring states as well as in Lakhimpur district and number of people have been affected. Overall situation is building up, not at its peak and it is the start of flood season."

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday directed the health department officials to prepare an online database listing important information such as availability of beds, oxygen and other health facilities to ensure efficient management of any health emergency in Assam, reported PTI.

According to an Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report, the deluge has affected 37,535 people in 10 districts of the state as of Saturday. One person was killed in a landslide in Guwahati, but no one has been killed by floodwaters so far.

The Kopili in Kampur (Nagaon) and Puthimari in Kamrup district have also breached the danger level. Several other rivers, besides the Brahmaputra at different places, were also flowing above the warning level, the CWC bulletin said.