Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday said an inter-ministerial Central team will visit the flood-affected areas of Assam and Meghalaya to assess the damage.
After speaking to Chief Ministers of Assam and Meghalaya Himanta Biswa Sarma and Conrad Sangma respectively, Shah said the Narendra Modi government stands firmly with the people of the two states in this hour of need.
“Spoke to CM Assam @himantabiswa and CM Meghalaya @SangmaConrad to discuss the situation in parts of both states in the wake of heavy rainfall and flooding. Modi government stands firmly with the people of Assam and Meghalaya in this hour of need,” he tweeted.
The home minister said an inter-ministerial Central team will visit the flood-affected areas of Assam and Meghalaya to assess the damage. He also said that following the earlier spell of floods, an inter-ministerial Central team visited the affected areas of Assam from May 26 to 29.
The flood situation in Assam remained critical on Monday, affecting nearly 43 lakh people in 33 of its 35 districts. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed air dropping of food and other relief materials in areas where there is heavy inundation.
The death toll in the ongoing flood and landslides in the state increased to 73 on Monday. Among the dead were two police personnel, including an officer-in-charge of a police station in the Nagaon district who had gone to help marooned people but were swept away. Their bodies were fished out in the early hours of Monday.
Assam flood situation critical
With the flood situation in Assam remaining critical on Monday and affecting a population of nearly 43 lakh in 33 of its 35 districts, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma directed air dropping of food and other relief materials in areas where there is heavy inundation, officials said.
Sarma gave the direction after a review meeting with his cabinet colleagues and senior district officers during the day. Sarma, who held a virtual meeting with his ministers, senior state government officials and deputy commissioners, directed that top priority must be given to relief and rescue operations and there should be no delay citing procedural rules.
1 killed, 3 missing in Arunachal
Incessant rainfall in the past several days have triggered landslides and flood in several districts of Arunachal Pradesh disrupting surface communication, while one person was killed and three others were missing since June 18, officials said on Monday. The administration is working hard to restore road connectivity in all the affected districts.
A 16-year-old boy was killed in a massive landslide at Yupia in Papum Pare district on Sunday. The boy identified as Rage Hilli, was riding a motorcycle when he got buried under the debris. His body was later retrieved from there.
Hilli, a resident of MG village in Keyak circle of West Siang district, was locally known to be a promising boxer. According to a report from West Kameng district, three employees of a hotel went missing when a massive landslide swept away the building.
The incident occurred on the intervening night of June 18 and 19 near Angkaling village under Kalaktang sub-division, District Disaster Management Officer Mindu Yangzom said.
“The bodies of the missing persons are yet to be found. Search operations are on,” the DDMO said.
Meghalaya calls out IAF to airlift essentials
Meghalaya government on Monday called out the Indian Air Force to airlift essential food supplies and medicines to be delivered to the worst rain-hit South Garo Hills district and parts of South West Khasi Hills district which have been affected due to massive landslides.
“We have requested the IAF to airlift essential food supplies and medicines up to Mahesh Khola area for immediate relief in the affected villages in South Garo Hills and parts of South West Khasi Hills tomorrow (Tuesday) subject to weather clearance,” a senior government official said.
Meanwhile, the death toll due to rain-related reasons has increased to 34 in the state. The National Highway 06 was re-opened for traffic after the debris from the flash flood were cleared around the Sonapur Tunnel in East Jaintia Hills District on Monday evening.
(Correspondent)
On the other hand, Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma on Monday visited families of those killed in the recent landslides at Dangar and Kenmysaw under Mawsynram Block in East Khasi Hills district and handed over the sanction letters for financial assistance being released to the next of kin of the deceased.
