[India Report] Flood affects over 2.4 Mil. people in Assam

Picture of a dead deer in flood affected Kjiranga forest of Assam (Photo : The Times Of India)

Flood is something which is very much familiar to the people of Assam in India. But it was the most devastating in years. The death toll climbed to 125 while there is no trace of 97 peoples. Lives of 2.4 million people are reported to be affected by the flood this year. 4,540 villages with more than 9.35 lakh hectares of land are completely inundated. The flood situation in Assam was grim on Tuesday with vast tracts of land in both Brahmaputra and Barak valleys remaining submerged, official sources said.

The annual devastation comes in multiple waves in Assam—three to four—starting from April. The current wave was declared by the state government as the worst since 2004: 201 human lives and over 100 animals were lost in the four waves that year. Government spokesman and agriculture minister Nilamoni Sen Deka said this year’s wave of floods has turned out to be even bigger. “And we are witnessing just the first wave. We fear the next wave, which is expected very soon,” reported The Times Of India.

Photo of flood in Assam (Photo : The Times Of India)

The southwest monsoonfed flood first hit Karimganj district in Barak valley in April and later Lakhimpur district on the north bank of Brahmaputra valley in May. The devastating phase started on June 24 when incessant rains in the catchment areas of Brahmaputra, particularly in China and Arunachal. It led to the river and its tributaries flowing above the danger mark. The monsoon also triggered landslides, which have so far claimed 16 lives, including 10 in the city. The flood has destroyed infrastructure, breaching embankments in the Brahmaputra valley, washing away bridges and damaging seven national highways and roads. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on his visit to the state on July 2, announced an ad hoc assistance of Rs 500 crore to help the state till the final assistance is announced after the damage is assessed by a central team. The seven-member team arrived here on Tuesday. According to an official, “The central team has been divided into three groups for three sectors , NC Hills and Karbi Anglong hill districts, upper Assam and lower Assam,”

Two women rebuild a house which was ruined by the flood (Photo : The Telegraph)

The current wave of flood has claimed lives of 595 animals of UNESCO World Heritage Kaziranga National Park, situated in Assam. The casualty includes 17 rhinos, 512 hog deers, 28 wild boar, 15 sambars, 10 swamp deers, five porcupines, elephants, hog badgers and python (two each) and one each of buffalo and jackal respectively, according to the latest official update.
The agriculture sector has been immensely affected by the current wave of flood with 2.55 lakh hectares of cropland under water. The minister informed that more than 40% of the state’s area stands affected. And the loss of the farmers is presumed to be almost 900 crores in Indian currency.

An estimated five lakh people have taken shelter in 630 relief camps and 150 medical teams have been working to provide medical aid, the sources said.
The State Government has announced to pay ex-gratia of Rs 1.5(1lakh = 0.1million) lakh to the next of kin of each of the dead while the Prime Ministers’ Office and the Chief Minister will give ex-gratia of Rs 1 lakh each.

Sudhanya Ghosh Intern Reporter news@theasian.asia