Nearly 1 Lakh people affected in floods across 6 Assam districts
PTI
GUWAHATI, APRIL 26
Almost one lakh people have been affected across six districts in the first wave of floods in Assam.
According to an official release by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly one lakh people were suffering in Jorhat, Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Cachar and Charaideo districts.
Authorities have opened 40 relief camps in Sivasagar, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh and Charaideo where 7,412 inmates were taking shelter.
So far nearly 5,000 hectares of crop area have been inundated by flood water, the release said.
Currently, Burhidihing and Desang Naglamuraga rivers were flowing above the danger mark in Sivasagar, it said.
Army, NDRF and SDRF teams have been deployed for search and rescue operations in flood affected areas of Charaideo district.
Relief materials have been distributed to flood affected people in Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Charaideo.
Meanwhile, train services over Lumding-Silchar hill section, which resumed on Sunday evening with the movement of goods train, had to be controlled again today due to further landslides at four places between Lumding and Badarpur.
Accordingly train services in the section have been regulated till completion of restoration work, Northeast Frontier Railway officials said. Weather condition continued to remain very inclement in affected areas as road communication remained disrupted to the Barak Valley.
Manipur’s rain-hit await relief as government gathers reports
IANS
IMPHAL, APRIL 26
People affected by torrential rains in Manipur in the last 10 days are sore over the alleged sloth in official response to their plight as the government awaits district collectors’ reports before disbursing relief.
The state cabinet at an emergency meeting on Monday evening decided the relief would be given as soon as comprehensive reports are received from the district collectors. Chief Secretary Oinam Nabakishore confirmed this.
Official sources said most collectors have collated reports on the extent of damages in their districts. Meanwhile, traffic on the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway-37 was disrupted after multiple landslides in Tamenglong district. Hundreds of buses, trucks and private vehicles were stranded and causing hardships to travellers.
The Border Roads Organisations’ workers were trying to clear the debris amid fears of more landslides.
Officials said they feared that traffic on the National Highway-2, which snakes through Nagaland, may also be affected soon, cutting off supply routes to Manipur.
Already, the prices of consumer items in Manipur have been raised by traders on the pretext that supply of consumables from Assam has been disrupted.
Congress leaders, including Manipur Pradesh Congress president T.N. Haokip, party legislaors, ministers and parliamentary secretaries have since joined in the relief efforts from Monday night.
Congress lawmakers Y. Surchandra and K. Ranjit supervised the distribution of relief material in Thoubal district, and Minister K. Ratan and parliamentary secretary Amin Shah in Mayang Imphal areas. Ranjit said: “We have brought rice, edible oil and salt for the affected people. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has directed for all possible help to the affected. Several houses have been damaged by rains and hailstorms in Manipur.” Opposition parties say the Congress is extending a helping hand to the people with an eye to the coming elections to the Imphal Municipal Corporation and the assembly.
Altogether 80 families in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh have lost their dwellings and lands while more than 100 were affected by the pre-monsoon flood caused by the Noa Dihing River.
Sixty-four families were in Dumpani and 16 families in Jyotipur villages under Diyun circle, an official report from the district administration said today.
Local MLA Nikh Kamin took stock of the situation yesterday along with the ADC, EAC, Indian Army and Police, the report said.
Kamin visited all the areas vulnerable to floods and the areas badly affected at Jyotipur and Dumpani villages.
The MLA has assured the victims of every possible help, saying that he would appeal to the government for a permanent solution for the menace of Noa Dihing which takes away a chunk of fertile land of the state every year.
He gave the victims an amount of Rs 1.2 lakh each as immediate relief while the administration has distributed several quintals of food items.
Kamin lauded the Indian Army, Dumba Camp for their active role in the rescue operation and for their donation of rations and other items.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) S Miji and Extra Assistant Commissioner (EAC) Tagam Mibang have advised people not to go back and stay along the river until the monsoon is over because the water level could rise anytime and could be dangerous, the report added.
