Union Home Minister Amit Shah has pledged robust support from the central government to Assam as the state grapples with devastating floods caused by incessant rainfall. In a recent discussion with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Shah underscored the urgent deployment of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to intensify relief and rescue operations.
“Assam is facing severe flooding due to heavy rains. I have spoken with CM Shri @himantabiswaJi regarding the situation. NDRF and SDRF are actively engaged in providing relief and rescuing the affected. PM Shri @narendramodiJi stands solidly with the people of Assam, committed to extending all possible assistance during these challenging times,” Shah affirmed in a social media update.
The ongoing floods, which have persisted over the past month, have inflicted widespread devastation across Assam. They have resulted in loss of life, extensive damage to infrastructure, road closures, crop destruction, and significant displacement, affecting over 2.42 million people across 30 districts.
Dhubri district is one of the worst-affected areas, with 775,721 individuals bearing the brunt of the disaster. Agricultural lands spanning 63,490.97 hectares have been severely inundated, and floodwaters have submerged 3,518 villages distributed across 112 revenue circles. According to official reports, at least 92 animals have tragically perished due to drowning or complications during rescue efforts, while 95 animals have been successfully evacuated from Kaziranga National Park in Bokakhat.
The Brahmaputra River has surged above dangerous levels at multiple key locations, including Neamatighat, Guwahati, Goalpara, and Dhubri. Other districts severely impacted include Cachar, Kamrup, Hailakandi, Hojai, Nagaon, Morigaon, Goalpara, Dibrugarh, Nalbari, Dhemaji, Bongaigaon, Lakhimpur, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Kokrajhar, Karimganj, South Salmara, Tinsukia, Charaideo, Barpeta, Karbi Anglong, Golaghat, Sivasagar, Chirang, Majuli, Biswanath, Darrang, Karbi Anglong West, and Kamrup Metropolitan.
The assurance of comprehensive support from the central government comes at a critical juncture as Assam endeavors to mitigate the widespread impact of the flooding and commence efforts towards recovery and rehabilitation.