Assam flood situation grim, 29 dead, 36 lakh people affected; Centre announces compensation

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured the state government all possible help to deal with the situation.

Pic courtsey: MoS for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju

New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday made an aerial survey of the flood-hit Nagaon and Morigaon districts and Kaziranga national park area and assured the state government all possible help to deal with the situation even as he asked the state government to prepare an effective action plan.

Rajnath, who addressed a press conference after the survey of flood-hit districts in Assam, announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the victims of the flood. 

"The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh for victims of the flood," he said.

Rajnath took stock of Kaziranga, Nagaon and Morigaon, some of the worst-affected areas in Assam. He was accompanied by DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and other senior bureaucrats during his visit. 

The Home Minister also visited a relief camp near Jagiroad in Morigaon district and interacted with the inmates there.

"I have visited some of the flood-hit areas of Morigaon, Nagaon and Kaziranga national park to review the situation. I felt that the situation is really serious. I have requested Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to help the flood-hit people in the best possible way and the Central government will extend all possible help to the state government to deal with the situation," said Singh while interacting with reporters at the Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International (LGBI) Airport before leaving for New Delhi.

He said about 36 lakh people of the state have been affected by the current wave of floods in 28 districts of the state.

A total of 29 people have died due to floods within one week. 

Singh appreciated the way the Assam government is dealing with the situation.

Appreciating the role of agencies like the National Disaster Rescue Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Disaster Rescue Force (SDRF) and the Army, Singh said they have been working effectively with the concerned district administrations to help the marooned people and they have saved over 6,000 lives in the last few days. Singh expressed his happiness to see that all the peoples' representatives in Assam are there with the flood-hit people in their respective constituencies.

On asked about declaring Assam's flood as a national problem, he said by declaring flood as a national problem will not solve the matter. 

"We must find out what is the cause of the floods and how to mitigate the problem. We have already asked the state government to prepare an action plan in this regard," he said.

Singh further stressed that the embankments of the rivers in the state should be strengthened and repaired as a short-term measure to stop floods but added that the Central government has been contemplating some long-term measures to find a lasting solution to the flood problem in Assam.