Assam Floods Death Toll Rises to 50 While More Than 100 People Are Still Missing
The death toll from this year’s Assam Floods, one of the worst monsoon disasters in the state, has risen to 50 with more than 100 people missing. Rescue and relief operations are on in a number of flood-affected districts as the authorities are in a race against time to trace the missing residents and shift marooned families to safer locations. Lakhs of people have been affected by the disaster and transport has been disrupted and hundreds of villages submerged.
Why is Assam flood situation so bad?
Due to heavy rains during monsoon season and overflowing of rivers, upper Assam has been flooded. Several rivers including Brahmaputra and its tributaries crossed danger levels causing large scale inundation of habitation, farmland, roads and public infrastructure.
Officials said fast-rising water levels gave many communities little time to evacuate and made rescues more difficult in remote and inaccessible areas.
New Satellite Images Show India Covered by Thick Clouds as Monsoon Returns at Full StrengthMost impacted regions?
Several districts are under flood and Upper Assam has been worst hit in terms of destruction. Road connectivity snapped at many places as thousands of families have been shifted to relief camps and many others are still waiting to be rescued.
Homes, public buildings, agricultural land, tea gardens and transport links have all been badly hit, raising long-term concerns for local livelihoods.
What are authorities doing to help the residents affected?
Rescue operations are underway with the help of boats and other emergency equipment involving State disaster response teams, NDRF, Army personnel and local authorities.
- The government’s immediate task is to.
- Looking for missing people.
- Get the residents who are trapped out.
- Food, water to drink, medical assistance, temporary shelter.
- Reconstruction of roads and communications links where possible.
Officials warned the figures for casualties are likely to change as rescue teams reach areas which still cut off by floodwater.
How many people does this affect?
The floods have hit some eight lakh people in several districts and thousands have been rendered homeless. Displaced families are being sheltered in relief camps and emergency agencies continue to donate life-saving supplies.
Apart from the humanitarian crisis, the floods have disrupted rail movement, damaged infrastructure and disrupted agricultural activities at a critical time for cultivation.
Why Assam floods almost every year?
Assam is subject to severe flooding in the south-west monsoon owing to heavy rainfall and the Brahmaputra river system which along with many tributaries crisscrosses the state. Low-lying areas are frequently flooded by rivers that break their banks, and erosion and shifting river courses increase the risk to nearby communities.
The need for better flood management, upgraded drainage infrastructure and early warning systems to limit future losses has been repeatedly stressed by experts.
And then what happens?
Rain continues to fall in several parts of North-east India; rescue teams are on high alert; officials are closely monitoring weather and river conditions and the search continues for the missing. “We will continue to support the flood victims until the waters have gone down and we can see the full extent of the damage to houses, infrastructure and agriculture,” officials said.
Sources
Google Trends- The keyword research showed that the most trending search word was “Assam Floods”.
Times of India – 50 deaths, over 100 missing, nearly 8 lakh affected, rescue operations underway: Verified update
The Economic Times – Used the Chief Minister’s statement on over 100 people missing and fear that the death toll would rise further.
The Indian Express – Used background on historic floods in Upper Assam, evacuations and water levels never seen before.
Hindustan Times – Context Flooding in villages and districts on a large scale and major rivers crossing danger levels
