Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviews State flood scenario with Sarbananda Sonowal

GUWAHATI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a virtual meeting with the Chief Ministers of six States including Assam to take stock of the prevailing flood situation. Prime Minister Modi reviewed the response and relief of the States in view of the catastrophic floods and observed that since most of the States have witnessed beyond normal monsoon rain this year, most parts of the States have borne brunt of the situation.

Taking review of the flood of Assam, Prime Minister Modi expressed his deep condolences to the loss of lives in the deluge. The Prime Minister said that though personally he wanted to make a visit to all the flood-affected States, the present situation prevented him from doing this. He also assured all help and assistance to the affected States, and said that all suggestions given by the Chief Ministers would receive due importance as these suggestions would be adequately considered while drafting the future course of actions for helping the States from flood and erosion, stated a release.

While participating in the virtual meeting, Chief Minister Sonowal apprised the Prime Minister of the largescale destructions that the floods in Assam have perpetrated this time around. Drawing his attention to the widespread damage caused by the flood, Chief Minister Sonowal told the Prime Minister that this year so far the floods have affected 30 districts. He also said that the floods and its related manifestations like landslide have taken the lives of 158 people across the State. Besides, the floods have caused largescale damage to physical infrastructure like roads, bridges, culverts etc. It also inundated agricultural lands, killing large number of animals. He also requested the Prime Minister for Centre's help in reconstructing and repairing of schools, anganwadi centres and other public properties.

Chief Minister Sonowal also thanked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being in touch with him from the very beginning over telephone and taking stock of the floods in the State. He also thanked him for his role in releasing Rs 386 crore to the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF) which helped the State in tackling the scourge of flood and expediting rescue, relief and rehabilitation processes. Sonowal also thanked the Chief Minister for announcing Rs 2 lakh one-time grant to the next of the kin died in the flood. He also expressed his gratitude for taking steps in finding a scientific and durable solution to the flood and erosion of the State.

Along with the Chief Minister of Assam, Chief Minister of Bihar, Nitish Kumar, his Kerala counterpart P Vijayan, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thakarey, and Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yeddiyurappa also presented the flood scenarios of their respective States to the Prime Minister.

Initiated by Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, the virtual meeting was attended among others by Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan, Cabinet Secretary, other senior officers of the Central government, Chief Secretaries of the concerned states, senior officers of the NDRF.

Along with the Chief Minister, the virtual meeting was attended among others by Water resources Minister Keshab Mahanta, Chief Minister's Media Advisor Hrishikesh Goswami, Chief Minister's Legal Advisor Santanu Bharali, Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, Additional Chief Secretaries Jishnu Baruah, Sayedain Abbassi, Chief Minister's Principal Secretary Sanjay Lohiya, CEO ASDMA S. Manivannan and Special Commissioner and Secretary Ranjan Chakraborty, the release added.

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