The Asian Age

Situation in Assam remains grim

More than 33L people hit Sonowal leaves for Delhi to meet PM

- MANOJ ANAND with agency inputs

The flood situation remained grim in Assam on Wednesday as most of the rivers recorded a rising trend, leading to inundation of national highways at several places in western Assam thereby disrupting road communicat­ion. The floodwater has also inundated railways tracks, leading to cancellati­on, diversion and short terminatio­n of train services in Assam.

Meanwhile, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday left for Delhi to meet PM Narendra Modi and apprise him of the preliminar­y damage caused by the third wave of floods.

The second wave of flood has spread to 25 out of 32 districts, claiming 11 more lives besides affecting over 33 lakh people in the state. More than 1.38 lakh people, who have been displaced due to floods, are taking shelter in 629 relief camps set up by the state administra­tion.

The Army was assisting the civil administra­tion in rescue and relief operations as the Brahmaputr­a River and its tributarie­s were flowing above danger levels, snapping surface communicat­ions in many parts of the state.

According to a defence spokespers­on, troops of Gajraj Corps were involved in relief and rescue operations in Nagaon and other districts western Assam.

The Army’s flood relief columns are involved in relief and rescue operations in Purabheti and Jaklabandh­a. They have establishe­d liaison with the administra­tion and are coordinati­ng relief operations with them, he said.

Amidst the fear of starvation death of wildlife marooned on highlands, the state forest department and several wildlife NGOs has also intensifie­d relief and rescue operation in wildlife sanctuarie­s.

With a majority of areas under Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Lawkhua Wildlife Sanctuary inundated, a large number of animals were taking shelter in the highlands or have moved to safer areas across the hills, the forest department said. of

 ?? — PTI ?? Artists give final touches to idols of Lord Ganesh ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Jammu on Wednesday.
— PTI Artists give final touches to idols of Lord Ganesh ahead of Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Jammu on Wednesday.
 ?? — PTI ?? Flood-affected villagers commute to safer places using boats in Assam’s Morigaon district.
— PTI Flood-affected villagers commute to safer places using boats in Assam’s Morigaon district.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India