Guwahati, 1st June: The floods in Assam, triggered by the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, have claimed eight lives so far, with six people, including two children, perishing in the past 24 hours.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reports that nearly 3.50 lakh individuals, including over 78,000 children, across 11 districts are suffering due to the flooding.
The latest ASDMA flood report indicates that three individuals, including a child, drowned in the Cachar district, two people, including a child, died in the Hailakandi district, and one fatality was reported from the Karbi Anglong West district. The Cachar district remains severely affected, with nearly 1.20 lakh people impacted. Other districts facing significant challenges include Nagaon with 78,756 people affected, Hojai with 77,030, Karimganj with 52,684, and Hailakandi with 10,165 affected residents.
A total of 560 villages across 25 revenue circles in Karbi Anglong, Dhemaji, Hojai, Cachar, Karimganj, Dibrugarh, Nagaon, Hailakandi, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong West, and Dima Hasao districts remain submerged. Rivers such as the Kopili, Barak, Katakhal, and Kushiyara are flowing above danger levels due to continuous heavy rain.
The floods have inundated 4,931 hectares of cropland, prompting the establishment of 187 relief camps and distribution centers, which are currently housing 68,600 people. Additionally, many have sought refuge on higher ground and safer areas. The deluge has also affected over 1,023,063 domestic animals.
Rescue efforts by the NDRF, SDRF, Police, Fire and Emergency Services, and local administration continue in numerous flood-hit areas, rescuing 615 people in the past 24 hours. However, the floodwaters have caused extensive damage, destroying 11 roads, several health centers, culverts, anganwadi centers, school buildings, irrigation canals, and breaching three embankments.
In response to the disaster, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the families of each deceased victim across Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and West Bengal. Additionally, those injured will receive Rs 50,000 each.
“An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased due to the natural disasters in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each,” stated the Prime Minister’s Office on ‘X’.