Assam Floods: PM Narendra Modi pledges to provide all help

 No let-up in flood situation; CM visits relief camps

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured the State Government that the Centre will provide all necessary help to cope with the havoc caused by ongoing floods in the State, even as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited several relief camps and sites of breached embankments in the Kamrup and Darrang districts.

So far, 47 spots in various embankments have been breached by flood waters across the State and more than 20 roads have damaged along with several bridges. The breached embankments include 23 under the Water Resources Department, 22 under the DRDA and one each under the P&RD Department and Agriculture Department. The cumulative death toll due to flood and landslides was 62 as on Saturday evening. Over 30.99 lakh people have been affected by floods in 4,219 villages under 32 districts of the State.

The Chief Minister told the media, "PM Modi called me today morning to enquire about the flood situation. While expressing his concern over the hardship being faced by the people due to this natural calamity, he assured all help from the Central Government."

After visiting various relief camps and listening to the grievances of the inmates, the Chief Minister directed the officials concerned to address the genuine issues as soon as possible.

The Chief Minister expressed the hope that rainfall will reduce from June 20, which would lead to improvement of the overall situation.

Regarding the issue of floods being caused in certain areas of the State due to release of excess water from the Kurisu dam of Bhutan, Sarma said that excess water from the hills of Bhutan is bound to enter the low-lying areas of neighbouring Assam sooner or later, regarding of whether water is released from the dam. Therefore, he said, the Government is considering construction of innovative embankments to control flooding of the Assam-based tributaries which are linked with Bhutan.

The Chief Minister also asserted that there is no shortage of funds for providing relief and rehabilitation to the flood-hit people. The Deputy Commissioners concerned have been instructed to seek the assistance of the Army, the CRPF and the NDRF whenever the need arises in any particular area.

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