Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Guwahati/Shillong/Patna
Heavy rain and floods have displaced lakhs of people in the states of Assam, Bihar and Meghalaya, leaving state administrations scampering to deal with a quickly escalating situation.
Over 26 lakh people were affected in Assam alone—according to data that Assam’s State Disaster Management Authority uploaded on its website on Sunday, 3,181 villages were swamped by waters of the Brahmaputra, which breached its banks because of heavy rains.
The floods have claimed 11 lives in the state so far, and affected more than 87,607 hectares of crop land.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is reported to have spoken to Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who told him that 31 of the state’s 32 districts were affected.
Data showed that Barpeta was the worst-hit—7.35 lakh people were displaced.
About 70 per cent of Kaziranga National Park—a UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to the Great Indian Rhino—was also affected.
Floods in Bihar have caused uproar in the state’s assembly on Monday. Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal claimed Janata Dal (United) government was inept at tackling the escalating situation. State government under Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has denied the allegations.
Responding to the allegations on behalf of the state government, Bihar Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav denied the allegations, saying that the chief minister held a high-level meeting on Sunday to review the state administrations measures. He said Kumar had conducted an aerial survey of Purnia, one of the most affected districts of the state.
Official reports say death toll in Bihar stand at four. More than 18 lakh have been displaced.
The Patna Meteorological Centre has forecast more rain and thunderstorm in several places over the next three days.
Flashfloods in Meghalaya has displaced more than one lakh people in the past seven days. Heavy rain and rising water levels of two rivers have flooded the plains of West Garo Hills district, officials said on Monday.
Floodwaters have besieged 50 villages in Demdema block and 104 villages in Selsella block.
Rising waters of the Brahmaputra and the Jinjiram rivers, both flowing from Assam, have engulfed low-lying areas of the district. Some parts of state capital city Shillong have also been affected.
“A flood-like situation was created in the low-lying areas of the city,” the Deputy Commissioner of East Khasi Hills district, M W Nongbri,” said.
Officials are now trying to evacuate residents in flooded areas to safer places, an official said.
“We are continuously monitoring the situation and will keep the people informed if the situation worsens,” Phulbari MLA SG Esmatur Mominin.
