Union Home Minister Amit Shah reached out to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma regarding the severe flood situation in the state. Shah informed Sarma about an upcoming visit by an inter-ministerial Central team to evaluate the flood’s impact. The Central team aims to assess the damage caused by the deluge and provide support for relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Expressing his appreciation, Chief Minister Sarma acknowledged the full support extended by the Centre during one of Assam’s worst flood episodes in recent years. He highlighted the widespread devastation caused by flash floods, triggered by cloudbursts in upstream areas and exacerbated by heavy rainfall, affecting numerous districts. Sarma mentioned that the floods have impacted over nine lakh individuals in more than 1,800 villages across 25 districts.
The calamity has resulted in 41 casualties and the loss of thousands of livestock. Ongoing rescue and evacuation operations, aided by various agencies including the Indian Air Force, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), continue tirelessly. Helicopters and boats are being utilized to reach stranded residents in inaccessible areas. The state government has set up over 148 relief camps, offering shelter to nearly 30,000 displaced individuals.
Relief teams have been actively distributing food grains, drinking water, and essential supplies, with a significant amount of relief materials dispatched to the worst-affected districts. Sarma mentioned that the Assam government, in collaboration with the Centre, is formulating a comprehensive rehabilitation plan for affected families. Additionally, plans are underway to engage with neighboring states to enhance coordination in addressing the impact of upstream cloudbursts and potential flood-related disasters.
