GUWAHATI: People of the upper Assam districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat are witnessing one of the most devastating floods in decades. The sudden flood that submerged hundreds of villages in these districts have affected lakhs of people.
The death toll in the deadly floods rose to 16 as strong currents swept away a young man in Sivasagar district. Assam continues to face severe deluge conditions across 16 districts. The heavy cloud bursts in Mon district of Nagaland on July 19 caused heavy flooding in several upper Assam districts.
As per the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) 45 revenue circles of 16 districts are under flood water as on July 21. Over 3.60 lakhs people have been affected in the latest flood. More than 790 villages are under flood water and 19200 hectares of agriculture has been destroyed by the latest wave of flood. Nearly 6 lakhs domesting animals and over 4 lakhs poultry have been affected in the flood.
Sivasagar and charaideo have been the worst affected and nearly 2.60 lakhs people are affected in these two districts.
According to the latest figures, the districts bearing the brunt of the floods are Biswanath Chariali, Cachar, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Sivasagar, Tinsukia and Udalguri. Among these, Charaideo has been hit the hardest.
Indian Army and Indian Air Force have launched Operation Jal Rahat 2 and are engaging in rescue and relief operations. This morning IAF carried out three sorties, airdropping 627 kg of relief supplies to stranded families in Nazira.
District administrations have distributed 90,000 drinking water bottles and food items in Dibrugarh to Sivasagar early this morning.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said, “Sivasagar, Jorhat & Charaideo districts are witnessing unprecedented flooding following the cloudburst upstream, with water levels unseen in over half a century. We urge all affected families to cooperate with the authorities and move to safer locations when advised.”
Response teams of SDRF, NDRF and Indian armed forces and district administration are engaged in rescue and relief operations. Sixteen teams from the 18th Battalion of the National Disaster Response Force 380 personnel and 34 boats in total are working in Sivasagar and Charaideo. In Jorhat, two teams from the 1st Battalion NDRF, made up of 60 personnel and 10 boats, are carrying out rescue operations. Two dedicated teams of 1st Bn NDRF are executing non-stop Flood Water Rescue operations across in Jorhat, Assam. Over 507 citizens safely evacuated so far
Indian Army has launched Operation Jal Rahat II in flood hit upper Assam, moving flood relief columns into Sivasagar, Jorhat and Charaideo. In Charaideo, 150 civilians have been lifted to safer ground, 73 men, 47 women and 30 children.
