Monsoon Brings Suffering and Destruction to Assam – 159 Dead, 55 Lakh Affected Amid Floods
Every year, the monsoon disrupts life in the northeastern states of India, however, Assam residents say that this year has brought the worst flood in living memory affecting animals and humans alike
Image: AFP
Seventy-one people and five animals have lost their lives in floods that have washed away roads and submerged districts and jungles with the same fury in the Indian state of Assam. Nearly 160 people are dead and over 55 lakh people have been affected by the Assam floods, disrupting lives and livelihoods. While the deluge claimed many lives, some people were killed in landslides and nearly 10 people have gone missing. The deaths were reported from Cachar district, Barpeta, Bajali, Kamrup, Karimganj, and Udalguri districts.
Meanwhile, animals in Kaziranga National Park (KNP) are also fighting for their lives. During the flood season, animals from KNP move to the higher reaches of the neighboring Karbi Anglong district. Unfortunately, five poor creatures, including a leopard, have been killed so far in floods in Assam this year.
Image: PTI
The devastating state of Assam was caused by incessant rains, triggering floods that swallowed around 5,137 villages. Barpeta district is the worst hit with more than 12.70 lakh people affected, followed by Darrang with nearly 4 lakh people affected and Nagaon with over 3.50 lakh people suffering from the deluge.
The affected districts include Bajali, Baksa, Barpeta, Biswanath, Bongaigaon, Cachar, Chirang, Darrang, Dhemaji, Dhubri, Dibrugarh, Dima-Hasao, Goalpara, Golaghat, Hailakandi, Hojai, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup (M), Karbi Anglong West, Karimganj, Kokrajhar, Lakhimpur, Majuli, Morigaon, Nagaon, Nalbari, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, South Salmara, Tamulpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri. The residents of these 33 districts have been praying for mercy from God as the administration is unable to get the situation under control and relief teams are facing obstacles in providing aid.
Flood rescue op by Indian Army continued for the 4th consecutive day in 7 districts of Assam. Around 4500 stranded locals including critical patients, elders, women & children have been rescued. Timely supply of relief material to relief camps was provided: PRO Defence, Guwahati pic.twitter.com/Jw2R9FqMSW
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2022
The Army personnel has established a total of 744 relief camps, Paramilitary forces, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Emergency and Fire Services of the state police, civil administration and trained volunteers working to provide relief and aid services. More than 1.86 lakh people are taking shelter in these relief camps. The people from flood-swamped villages either take shelter at camps or stay on highways.
Image: India Today
Abdul Hakim, a flood victim in Kamrup’s Balabari village, said;
It has been four days and the water level is still rising. Our whole village is submerged but we have not received any relief material. If it rains further, the situation will turn even worse. Everything got destroyed in the floods. We are somehow surviving with the little food stock left and selling fish which we are catching in the flood waters.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted more rains in Assam and Meghalaya this week as well, with the next 48 hours expecting heavy to very heavy rainfall. The weather prediction has made the villagers more worried about the deteriorating situation.
Meanwhile, over 15 percent area of the KNP has been flooded by the Brahmaputra River, which cuts through the park. According to the authorities, the river is flowing above the danger level at several places.
The question remains, for how long will the people and wildlife have to suffer these annual floods? Is there nothing that can be done?
Rescue operation going on at Bakulaguri, Ulumguri NC, Ranipukhuri NC, Lutumari NC, Dapara, Manupathar, Naamkahunda.#ASDMA #assamflood #flood #landslide #relief #ReliefCamp #FloodRelief pic.twitter.com/b6M0EGDATa
— Assam State Disaster Management Authority (@sdma_assam) June 17, 2022
Assam | Anti-poaching camps of Kaziranga National Park inundated in flood waters due to incessant rainfall
Water level in Brahmaputra river still increasing, if situation remains the same then there’s possibility of flood waters inundating more areas of park: Ramesh Gogoi, DFO pic.twitter.com/MjnG1Ab2kW
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2022
Via: India Today
