GUWAHATI: The death toll in Assam‘s floods rose to 78 on Wednesday after three more fatalities were reported, even as over 3 lakh people remained affected across seven districts.While floodwaters have receded from most parts of the state, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said thousands of people were still unable to return home as their houses had either been damaged or filled with mud and silt, with several worst-hit areas remaining inaccessible due to mud-blocked roads.He also said several of the worst-hit areas remain difficult to access as roads are blocked by mud washed down from the adjoining hills of Nagaland.The flood situation has improved as there has been no heavy rainfall since July 21, Sarma said, but added that the scale of destruction remains a major challenge.“The flood situation has improved as there has been no heavy rainfall after July 21. But the problem is that the damage has been so huge,” he said.“People cannot return to their homes as their houses have either been damaged or filled with mud and silt. It is still difficult to reach some areas as roads have been blocked with mud that was carried down from the hills of Nagaland along with the water,” he added.Sarma said the overall flood situation had subsided and was expected to improve further in the coming days.“It is important now how we resolve the misery of our people,” he said.Asked whether Assam would seek international assistance, the chief minister said, “We do not need international aid. The central and state governments are competent to deal with the situation.”He added that donations were pouring in from across the country and that detailed data would be released soon.Sarma also flagged off a BJP delegation carrying flood relief materials worth Rs 16 crore, collected through contributions from party workers, for affected people in Charaideo and Sivasagar districts.According to a BJP statement, relief materials will also be distributed in Jorhat and Golaghat districts.State BJP president Dilip Saikia, several ministers, BJP MLAs and party workers were present at the event.The relief consignment includes 1.8 lakh mekhela chadors (traditional Assamese attire for women), 1.8 lakh children’s T-shirts and 1.5 lakh mosquito nets.Sarma thanked organisations, NGOs and individuals across Assam for extending support to flood-hit families.He also said that, following directions from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman, he would hold a meeting with representatives of all banks operating in Assam on Thursday to discuss special loan relief measures for flood-affected citizens.Meanwhile, NDA ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) also dispatched relief materials to affected people in eastern Assam.AGP president and state cabinet minister Atul Bora flagged off the vehicles carrying the supplies from Guwahati, while senior party leaders, including MPs Phani Bhusan Choudhury and Birendra Prasad Baishya, will oversee the distribution.(With PTI inputs)
