Guwahati: CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday visited the flood-ravaged districts in upper Assam to assess the situation on the ground and review the impact of the unprecedented flooding.Interacting with affected residents, the chief minister assured them of all possible govt support for rehabilitation and restoration of livelihoods. He said the scale of flooding in the three districts was unprecedented and that it would take a few days to determine the exact factors that led to the disaster.“The floods have caused extensive damage. I have assured the affected families that they are not alone in this crisis. Our govt is standing with them in every step of rehabilitation and rebuilding of livelihoods,” he added.The CM, while interacting with the flood-affected people at a relief camp set up in Charaideo, said people with serious illness or who are immobile will be shifted to hospitals.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma talking with flood affected people at a relief camp
He added, “People have lost their belongings, various documents, and lost their poultry and cattle. I have assured them of providing all documents they have lost in Assam floods.”Sarma said due to the sudden cloudburst in Nagaland, floods have struck even those districts of Assam where such an impact was not witnessed before.“I am pained at the situation being faced by the people in these districts. This was an unprecedented flood. Several people have died. Livestock deaths have also been reported. The entire situation is unexplainable. Our team is engaged day and night in relief and rescue operations and is working to bring the situation under control,” he added.Sarma said the state govt will hold talks with the Nagaland govt to know how and why such devastating floods happened.He added that minister Bimal Borah and Sushanta Borgohain are relentlessly working on the ground. “I will discuss with the district commissioners regarding any difficulties they are facing or any support required from Guwahati. Accordingly, we will extend all support. Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi sought a few more boats, which will be arranged soon,” he added.The CM said there are practical difficulties in airlifting people as helicopters cannot land due to floodwaters.On the death toll, he said, “The exact death toll cannot be told at this moment. About 70 people are still missing in Sivasagar district. I think two-three days will be required to get a figure on human life loss. On the other hand, as the MLA said, about 50 people are missing in Nazira also.”
