PM Modi assured necessary aids for flood-hit Assam: CM Sonowal

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday assured to provide relief materials and benefits for all those who have been affected with flood while saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also guaranteed necessary aids for Assam.

Speaking to ANI, Sonowal said "The state government has taken up all possible steps be it food, medical, agriculture or rescue for the people of Assam. Prime Minister Modi has also assured immediate assistances as soon as possible. Those who are not in relief camps but affected by floods will also be provided with relief benefits. Also the NDRF, SDRF are at work. Veterinary doctors and fodder has been arranged for animals at Kaziranga National Park."

Further giving assurance for repairing and rebuilding houses, Sonowal stated that farmers in the flood affected areas will be provided with quality seeds for cultivation.

"Nitin Gadkari has decided to dredge Brahmaputra. It will bring relief to villagers. We have also directed steps to be taken for repairing and rebuilding houses that are damaged fully or partially by the floods. Also farmers in the flood affected areas will be provided with quality seeds for cultivation," Sonowal said.

Yesterday, the death toll in Assam floods mounted to 59 even though the overall situation showed signs of improvement.

Close to 10 lakh people in 24 districts of Assam continued to reel under floods as the death toll reached 59 in the state on Saturday.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Saturday said that 11, 93,458 people have been suffering in 1,795 villages in 24 districts.

The affected districts include Dhemaji, Biswanath, Lakhimpur, Sonitpur, Darrang, Nalbari, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Soputh Salmara, Golapara, Morigaon, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Jorhat Majuli, Sivsagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh, Karimganj, and Cachar.

Over 66,516 hectares of agricultural land continue to be affected by floods, the ASDMA report said.

Officials said that close to 25,000 flood-affected people are taking shelter in 129 relief camps set up by the government in different districts.

Besides, 52 percent of the Kaziranga National Park remained under water on Saturday, which has also affected 93 anti-poaching camps in Agaratoli, Kohora, Bagori, Burhapahar and Biswanathghat.

The forest department as well as the Kaziranga National Park authorities have deployed additional forces, including outside the park, to monitor and track the animals which have strayed outside the park due to the floods.

Due to the impact of the floods, many roads, embankments and bridges have been damaged in several districts, including Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Biswanath, Goalpara, Bongaigaon, Dhubri, Golaghat, Majuli, Sivasagar and Karimganj.

Currently, the Brahmaputra is flowing above the danger mark at two places - Nimatighat in Jorhat and Dhubri town.

-ANI