Assam Flood Wreaks Havoc On Livelihood Of 33 Lakhs People

The Brahmaputra River, along with its other tributaries, have wreaked havoc on Assam once again. The river is flowing at dangerous levels, with the India Meteorological Department forecasting more rain in coming days. Around 85 people died in the state in flood-related incidents so far and more than 33 lakh people across 28 districts of the state are affected by the flood. Dhubri is the worst-hit district with over 5.51 lakh people affected.

The flood has been more harmful to farmers as water is breaching river embankments. Hundreds of acres of cultivable land in many districts deluged, severely hitting the livelihoods of cultivators.  The Flood also damaged the infrastructure in many parts of the state like embankments, roads, bridges and culverts collapsed at various places in several districts. Massive soil erosion was witnessed in some areas.

According to the Assam Disaster Management Authority, floodwaters have submerged over 3,300 villages, destroying 1.28 lakh hectares of crop in the process. Thousands have been shifted to relief camps, as the state stresses over the double threat of flooding, as well as COVID-19.

The floods also swamped most of Kaziranga National Park, home to rare one-horned rhinos. As many as 66 animals were reported dead as the floods-water submerged, while 170 animals were rescued from the national park. The forest officials are being assisted by the civil administration, police administration and the villagers in the area.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited a flood relief camp set up at Teok Rajabari Higher Secondary School in Jorhat district. “Our government is working on a war footing to provide all necessary assistance to the flood-affected people,” he said in a tweet. “The district administration, Assam Police, SDRF, NDRF and other departments are rescuing the marooned people,” said the Chief Minister.

The district administrations have set up 487 relief camps and distribution centres in 30 districts, where over 1.25 lakh men, women and children have taken shelter. The rescue operations are going on in affected areas and various teams of SDRF, NDRF, state police and locals are helping those affected by the flood.