Support pours in for over 3.5 million people hit by floods in Assam

GUWAHATI: From a former Prime Minister to the 14th Dalai Lama to Arsenal FC, messages of support are pouring in through social media for the over 3.5 million of people of Assam hit by the current wave of annual floods.
“His Holiness the Dalai Lama expresses his concern about the flooding in Assam, India in a gesture of solidarity with the people of Assam,” said a tweet from the Dalai Lama twitter handle with 19.3 miliion followers.
The official website of the 14th Dalai Lama reported, “Concerned about the damage caused by floods in Assam, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has written to the Chief Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal. The monsoon rains in Assam and other parts of India bring destruction and great suffering to people year after year,” …“Unfortunately, this year the situation has been made even more troublesome by the continuing coronavirus pandemic. I am writing to you today to express my sadness at the loss of life and devastation of property, as well as the tremendous hardship caused to so many due to flooding in many parts of your state.”
“As a gesture of solidarity with the people of Assam, I am making a donation from the Dalai Lama Trust towards relief and rescue efforts,” the website said quoting the spiritual leader.
Sonowal tweeted back, “On behalf of the people of Assam, my heartfelt thanks to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama for his blessings and kind gesture of solidarity & support to all affected by #AssamFloods.”
Earlier in the day, Arsenal Football Club sent out the support message not just in English but in Assamese language from its Instagram account that has 17.7 million followers. “We are With You” the Gunners said.
Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda appealed to the Centre to pay “urgent attention” to the situation in Assam and provide it with immediate relief.
“I am deeply disturbed by the reports of floods in Assam. The situation has been steadily worsening in the last few days. It is very unfortunate that the people of Assam have to battle the floods, and the deaths and displacement caused by it when the COVID-19 situation is raging across the nation. They are fighting on two fronts,” read a statement from the former Gowda.
“I appeal to the Prime Minister and the Central government to pay urgent attention to the situation emerging in Assam and offer maximum assistance to the state government,” he said.
“The people of Assam and the people of the Northeast in general, have blessed me and showered a lot of affection and when I was Prime Minister and later too. They will be in my prayers. After the pandemic abates, God-willing, I will visit the state,” he said.