With the flood situation in Assam deteriorating, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Sarbanand Sonowal on Monday for the second time in as many days and said all possible support is being provided to the state.
The Prime Minister said the central government has been closely and constantly monitoring the flood situation in Assam.
“PM @narendramodi spoke to Assam CM @sarbanandsonwal yesterday & today regarding the flood situation in the state,” the PMO tweeted.
“All possible support is being provided to Assam for overcoming the flood situation prevailing in parts of the state,” Modi said.
According to officials. at least 99 people died and 22.5 lakh are affected in 21 districts in this year’s flood.
Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Baksa, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts have been affected by the fresh wave of floods following the one last month.
An Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report said 3.55 lakh people in 781 villages of 15 districts of the north eastern state were hit by the deluge caused by incessant rains in the upper reaches of Brahmaputra river.
The Times of India reports that almost 85% of the protected area in Kaziranga National Park has gone under water while the officials claim that this might be the worst flooding in nearly three decades.
Notably, Brahmaputra, Buridihing, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, Puthimari and Sankosh rivers have been flowing above danger levels and have submerged more than 20,000 hectares of cropland.
Nearly 14,000 flood displaced people are taking shelter in 39 relief centres, the ASDMA report added.
The Army has been called for rescue operations in the state.
Sonowal on Sunday informed the prime minister about the devastation caused by the flood in middle and upper Assam and the disruption to vehicular movement on National Highway 37, the lifeline between the two areas, a state government spokesman had said yesterday.
Principal Secretary to the prime minister Nripendra Mishra has asked Assam Chief Secretary V K Pipersenia to submit a report detailing the damage and devastation caused by the current wave of floods in the state.
(With inputs from PTI)
(Feature image source: PTI)