Assam: Ten more deaths, IAF to airlift fuel to Barak Valley

GUWAHATI/SILCHAR: Assam’s flood situation turned critical after 10 more floodrelated deaths were reported on Monday, increasing the toll to 81. The state government has requisitioned the IAF to airlift petrol, diesel and geo bags to the Barak Valley, which remains cut off from rest of the state due to flood and rampant landslides at multiple locations.

Seven other people have been reported missing in the floods. According to Assam Disaster Management Authority, over five lakh more people were affected since Sunday which has pushed the number of total number of people hit to over 47 lakh. Of them, over 23 lakh are currently taking shelter in 810 temporary relief camps.
Among the dead are Kampur police station OC Sammujal Kakoti and constable Rajiv Bordoloi of Nagaon district. They were swept away by floodwaters on Sunday night on way to rescue some marooned people.
Two other accompanying policemen were rescued safely by the SDRF.
Union home minister Amit Shah called up Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma twice during the day to enquire about the flood situation and told the latter that a central team will soon visit the state to assess the damage caused by the deluge.
Sarma later said, “Except Karbi Anglong, all the other districts are currently affected by floods and landslides. Surface communication between the Brahmaputra Valley and Barak Valley has been completely snapped. The IAF will carry out its biggest transportation exercise here and will carry one lakh and eight thousand litres of petrol and diesel to Silchar and also geo bags.”
The IMD reported that “widespread rainfall accompanied with thunderstorm/lightning/ heavy to very heavy with extremely heavy rainfall at isolated places is very likely to continue over northeastern states during the next 48 hours and a decrease in rainfall intensity thereafter.”
In the Barak Valley, the Cachar district administration has called the Army, BSF and CRPF to assist in rescue operations as Silchar was hit by an unprecedented deluge on Monday.