Guwahati, July 24 (IANS) Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said that nearly 80,000 people stranded in the worst flood-hit parts of Upper Assam are yet to receive relief, as rescue agencies continue efforts to reach marooned villages cut off by unprecedented flooding.
Addressing the media persons here, the Chief Minister said around 50,000 people in Nazira and another 30,000 in Sivasagar remain inaccessible despite large-scale rescue and relief operations underway across the state.
“There are around 50,000 people in Nazira and nearly 30,000 people in Sivasagar whom the government has not yet been able to reach with relief. The flood situation has improved slightly, but these areas remain inaccessible,” Sarma said.
He noted that water levels have shown signs of receding in several places, but connectivity to a number of remote villages continues to remain disrupted, posing challenges for relief agencies.
The Chief Minister said teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Army and district administrations are making sustained efforts to access the isolated areas by boats and other available means.
Expressing confidence that relief would soon reach all affected residents, Sarma said the administration is continuously monitoring the situation and deploying additional resources wherever necessary.
He also confirmed that the flood-related death toll in the state has risen to 50, while cautioning that the figure could increase as search operations continue and several people are still reported missing.
The Chief Minister further said the floods have severely affected electricity infrastructure, leaving more than 60,000 households without power supply in different parts of the state. Restoration work is underway, although access constraints in inundated areas have delayed repairs.
Sarma announced that an inter-ministerial team from the Central government is scheduled to arrive in Assam on Saturday to undertake an on-ground assessment of the flood damage and review the requirement for financial assistance and rehabilitation measures.
Upper Assam districts, particularly Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat, have witnessed some of the worst flooding this season following heavy rainfall and inflows from upstream rivers, prompting extensive rescue and relief operations.
–IANS
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