The situation in Assam, where pre-monsoon floods have wracked the state for the previous 12 days, has improved for the third day on Tuesday, but there are still 5.80 lakh people in 18 districts impacted, and the overall death toll has grown to 27 with two more deaths in the last 24 hours.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasted further rain in the northeastern states, including Assam, in the coming days.
According to officials with the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), at least 5,80,145 people have been affected in 18 of the state’s 34 districts, including 1,15,208 children. 21 people died in floods, and the others died in landslides in various districts.
In total, 81,712 individuals are residing in 346 relief camps, with district authorities also establishing 182 relief distribution centers around the impacted areas. Three of the 18 flood-stricken districts were the hardest hit, with 3,46,291 persons affected in Nagaon alone, 1,77,954 in Cachar, and 40,941 in Morigaon.
The Army, Assam Rifles, National Disaster Response Force, and State Disaster Response Force, as well as district administrations, are working around the clock to rescue stranded persons and offer help to the men, women, and children.
In some spots, the water level of the Kopili river was above the danger limit. Various food products, cooking oil, and diesel was air carried in remote places on Tuesday, according to an ASDMA release.
According to officials, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited landslide areas in Sarkari Bagan, Haflong, on Tuesday, where major mudslides were induced by persistent rain. He also went to Lower Haflong relief camps and met with the inmates. He also went to the homes of people murdered in landslides at Hokai Pungchi Village in Haflong.
Sarma evaluated the situation and assessed the degree of damage caused by rain-induced landslides in the mountainous Dima Hasao district during a meeting at Haflong Circuit House.
Several ministers are camping in flood-ravaged districts to supervise rescue and relief efforts, including Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Jogen Mohan, Health Minister Keshab Mahanta, Water Resources Minister Pijush Hazarika, and Environment and Forest Minister Parimal Suklabaidya.
