Assam struggling against one of worst flood situations; 6.6 lakh people hit

GUWAHATI: Assam’s flood and landslide toll climbed to nine after one more person was reported dead in the deluge in Darrang district and the number of affected population shot past six lakh as the state continues to fight against one of the worst flood in recent years for the fourth day on Wednesday.
Nearly 50,000 people, including 50 pregnant women and lactating mothers and almost 7,000 children of the 27 affected districts, who have been displaced by the inundation are taking shelter in temporary relief camps set up in schools, highways and embankments.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) informed that over three lakh animals, which include big and small animals and poultry, have been affected by the flood.
The hill district of Dima Hasao, which is the worst hit due to extensive landslides and all forms of communication—road, rail and mobile, along with power was cut off for last four days. Stranded people from a train that lie damaged due to landslide at New Haflong railway station had to be airlifted and food materials are being airdropped from Wednesday.
“12 MT of food from Jorhat IAF base will be airdropped at Haflong tomorrow. Power supply has been restored partially to most of Dima hasao except Jatinga and Maibong. Mobile connectivity has also been partially restored,” chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
“If the weather conditions become favourable we will be able to clear that road communication in next two to three days. But, restoring the rail communication will take a long time, about 45 days,” Sarma said.
While rail communication to three districts of Barak Valley remains cut off, road communication which snapped two days back due to lanslside in Meghalaya has been partially restored. “Meghalaya goverbment along with NHAI helped clear one lane of the blocked the highway and if weather conditions remain good, both lanes will become operational from tomorrow,” Sarma said.
“There is enough stock of rice, essential commodities and fuel in Barak Valley to last up at least for 10 days,” he added.
In Hojai district the Army was called out which along with NDRF and SDRF rescued thousands of marooned people to safety.
With the disruption in rail and road communication in Assam, Mizoram and Tripura are bracing for a crisis as the roads from Assam are the primary lifelines for the two states.