Assam Floods Update: Death Toll Rises to 85; 116 Animals Dead in Kaziranga National Park
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal-led Assam government on Tuesday informed that the death toll of people in the state rose to 85 on Tuesday, while 116 animals died in Kaziranga National Park due to flood. Till now, over 24 lakh people have been affected in state, while crops in 1,09,600 hectares in 24 districts have been damaged.
Guwahati, July 21: Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal-led Assam government on Tuesday informed that the death toll of people in the state rose to 85 on Tuesday, while 116 animals died in Kaziranga National Park due to flood. Till now, over 24 lakh people have been affected in state, while crops in 1,09,600 hectares in 24 districts have been damaged.
According to Assam state government, over 276 relief camps and 192 relief distribution centres in the districts have been set up to help the flood-affected people. CM Sonowal on Monday had said that over 70 lakh people in 27 districts have been affected due to floods in the state and the government is providing all kinds of assistance to the people. Assam: Over 70 Lakh People Have Been Affected Due to Floods in State, Says CM Sarbananda Sonowal.
With the flood situation in Assam further worsened after a heavy downpour, Central Water Commission on Tuesday said that the by Wednesday night by tomorrow night, Brahmaputra river is expected to rise by 31 cm compared to Tuesday's afternoon. The CWC has warned the people not to venture near the riverfront.
Among other information, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Monday had stated that the rising water levels have deluged a total of 2,254 villages. The most affected areas districts include -- Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Morigaon, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, and others.
CM Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday visited the flood-affected Barpeta district and announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of those who have lost their lives in the floods. He also directed the administrative staff to pay the amount within 48 hours.
Apart from the state government, the United Nations has said that it is ready to support flood-hit Assam. UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric had said, "Our humanitarian colleagues tell us that nearly 4 million people have been displaced in Assam in India and neighbouring Nepal due to heavy floods...the UN stands ready to support the Government of India if required."
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 21, 2020 04:37 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).