Assam floods: 41 dead, 9 lakh affected; CM Himanta Biswa Sarma says destruction 'unimaginable'

Guwahati: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the destruction caused by floods is of an unimaginable scale. Over 9 lakh people across 1,800 villages in 25 districts have been impacted by this calamity. Around 41 lives were lost till date and thousands of livestock has been washed away. Around 70–80 people are still Missing.

Sarma, who is visiting the flood ravaged areas of the state, said that Union Home minister Amit Shah called up and took stock of the flood situation. An inter-ministerial team will soon come to Assam to assess the flood damages.

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Sarma stated in X on Thursday, “A short while ago, I received a call from Home Minister Amit Shah Ji. In view of the unprecedented flood situation in Assam, he informed me that an Inter-Ministerial Central Team will soon visit the State to assess the extent of the damage and help determine the Central assistance required for rebuilding livelihoods. The flash floods, triggered by a cloudburst upstream, have wreaked havoc on the lives of our people. I am grateful to the Hon’ble Home Minister for standing firmly with the people of Assam during this difficult time.”

Sarma said, “Cloudbursts upstream, coupled with localised heavy rainfall, 436% above normal, have led to flooding in villages that have not seen such devastation in recent history. We are responding with the full strength of a whole-of-government approach. All agencies, from the Indian Air Force and the NDRF to our State machinery, are working round the clock, carrying out rescue and evacuation operations by air and boat. We have set up over 148 relief camps, where close to 30,000 people are currently taking shelter. Our teams are reaching as many affected families as possible with food, drinking water and other essential supplies. In the worst-affected districts alone, over 3,00,000 kg of rice and other essential relief materials have already been delivered, with more on the way.”

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He added, “We are working closely with various departments and the Government of India to prepare a comprehensive long-term rehabilitation package for every affected family. Last but not the least, once the immediate crisis subsides, we will begin a structured dialogue with neighbouring States to establish a stronger coordination mechanism that can better protect our people from the impact of upstream cloudbursts and similar calamities in the future.”