3 Dead, 6 Lakh Affected and 1,000 Villages Submerged in Assam Floods

Mangalore Today News Network

Chirang, Assam, Aug 22, 2015:  Three people have died and six lakh people have been affected by the deteriorating flood situation in Assam, as six columns of the Indian Army are carrying our rescue and relief operations with state government agencies in nearly 19 districts of the state.

Over 1,000 villages are submerged and the administration is struggling to provide relief to all those affected by the floods.

Among those rescued is 28-year-Faizul Hoqe, who has lost his house and crops to the floods. Eight members of his family were stranded in their village till an Army rescue team reached them.

"For the last six days we are under flood water, now with army help we are going to a safer location.  However, there has been no help the state government", says Mr Hoqe

Thousands of hectares of crops are under water, the army has rescued nearly 1,500 people, including children and infants, from villages in Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar district. They are also distributing food in remote areas of the state.

Colonel Vishal Chaudhary, Commanding Officer of the Army’s Sikh Regiment said, "The bigger problem is to reach places where relief is required. We are carrying out this work in three states. We rescue them, move them to safer places in relief camps and provide them food and water."

The army’s intervention has worked for people.

25-year-old Shadad Ali, a local resident and his extended family of 28 people ate nothing for over six days before their rescue.

But across Assam, more people are waiting for rescue teams to reach them.

 

Courtesy: NDTV