Assam Floods Claim 66 Lives, 6.54 Lakh Affected

The death toll in Assam's ongoing floods has risen to 66 after four more people lost their lives in the last 24 hours. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the total death toll includes 65 general flood-related deaths and one urban flood-related fatality.

The four recent deaths were reported from Sivasagar district and Charaideo. As of July 25, over 6.54 lakh people across 10 districts remain affected by the floods. Sivasagar is the worst-hit district, with a population of 2,90,777 affected, followed by Charaideo with 1,88,404 and Jorhat with 1,31,948 people impacted.

A six-member Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) from the Centre has arrived in Dibrugarh to assess flood damage in Upper Assam. The team will visit the flood-affected districts of Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Golaghat from July 25 to 29.

The floods have caused extensive damage to the agricultural sector, with 810 villages across 28 revenue circles submerged and approximately 34,970.8 hectares of crop area under water. The water levels of major rivers continue to pose a threat, with the Dikhou River in Sivasagar and the Dhansiri (South) at Numaligarh flowing above the danger level.

In response to the crisis, the state administration has opened 274 relief facilities, including 90 relief camps and 184 distribution centres. A total of 18,902 inmates, including 2,157 children and 187 pregnant or lactating mothers, are currently taking shelter in these camps.

The floods have also caused significant infrastructure damage across the state, with 143 roads damaged and 10 embankments affected. The livestock sector has also suffered heavy losses, with 4,54,071 animals affected and 3,021 animals, including poultry, being washed away in the floodwaters.

Rescue operations are ongoing, with teams from the NDRF, SDRF and local administration working to evacuate stranded residents and provide essential supplies to the affected population. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited flood relief camps in Sivasagar to take stock of the situation, describing the deluge in Assam as 'extremely critical'.

The situation in Assam remains grim, with the floods showing no signs of receding. The state administration and central teams are working tirelessly to provide relief to the affected population and assess the damage caused by the floods.

The floods in Assam are an annual occurrence, but the severity of the situation this year has raised concerns about the state's preparedness to handle such disasters. The government has announced relief measures, including financial assistance to the affected families and rehabilitation of the damaged infrastructure.

The people of Assam are facing a tough time, with many losing their homes, livelihoods, and loved ones. The situation is a reminder of the importance of disaster management and the need for the government and other stakeholders to work together to mitigate the effects of such disasters.

In conclusion, the floods in Assam have caused widespread destruction and loss of life, with the situation remaining critical. The government and other agencies are working to provide relief to the affected population, but more needs to be done to prevent such disasters in the future.