Around 100 people remain missing in the devastating floods that have battered Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday after visiting the worst-affected districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat to review the ground situation and monitor ongoing rescue and relief operations.
During his visit, the Chief Minister inspected inundated villages, met flood-affected families in relief camps and held review meetings with district officials to assess the progress of rescue efforts and the distribution of relief materials.
Addressing the media in Sivasagar, Sarma described the flood situation as “extremely serious”, stating that nearly 100 people are still unaccounted for while several villages remain submerged. He said rescue teams have not yet been able to reach some inaccessible areas despite continuous efforts.
“Many villages remain under water, and there are still areas where rescue teams have not been able to reach. We are trying our best to help everyone, but the situation is still not good. Usually floods affect villages, but this time even towns have gone under water. The worst-hit districts are Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat. The flood has been intensified by water flowing from Nagaland,” the Chief Minister said.
In Charaideo district, Sarma visited flood-hit villages and relief camps, where he interacted with displaced residents and reviewed the rescue and relief measures being carried out by the district administration.
Calling the situation unprecedented, he said a large number of people had taken shelter in relief camps, while many others continued to remain stranded. He added that several lives had already been lost in the floods and that more bodies were still being recovered. Personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Indian Army and district authorities, he said, were working round the clock to evacuate stranded residents and provide relief.
The Chief Minister also said the Central Government was extending full support to Assam’s flood relief operations and assured that additional financial assistance would be sought if necessary.
Later, Sarma visited the flood-affected villages of Solmora and Borigaon in Jorhat district, where he assessed the extent of the damage and interacted with affected families.
Reviewing the situation in the district, he said the Bhogdoi River had breached embankments at five locations and announced that reconstruction work would begin immediately.
“The flood situation is very serious. The Bhogdoi River has breached embankments at five places. We will immediately begin reconstruction of these embankments. Relief and rescue operations are continuing, and the government will extend every possible assistance to the affected people,” he said.
Referring to reports of a possible cloudburst in Nagaland’s Mon district, Sarma said the Assam Government was coordinating closely with the Nagaland Government and would investigate the cause of the sudden rise in water levels once the flood situation stabilises.
The Chief Minister is scheduled to visit Golaghat district on Thursday to review the flood situation as rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations continue across the flood-affected areas of Upper Assam.
