As India grips into the collective dismay that 2020 brought in, Assam has been facing the wrath of nature since June alongside battling with COVID. More than 36 lakh people across 26 districts of the state are affected by the disaster whereas the death toll rose to 59 on Tuesday with 9 more deaths due to floods. Three persons died in Dibrugarh district, two each in Tinsukia and Barpeta, while one each in Biswanath and Golaghat districts, according to the daily flood bulletin of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). Other than that more than 26 lives have been lost due to landslides since May. The floodwaters have submerged more than 1.28 lakh hectares of cropland.
Major rivers such as Brahmaputra, Dhansiri, Burhidihing, Jia Bharali, Beki, Kopili, Sankosh, and Kushiyara were flowing above the danger level, as per the reports, since Tuesday evening.
The worst-hit districts in the state are Hojai, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Udalguri,Darrang, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kamrup, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dilburagarh, Tinsukia, and Karbi Anglong.
95% of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Kaziranga National Park, famous for the one-horned rhinos, inundated with water and animals have been fleeing to the nearby villages in order to save themselves. As per the state’s bulletin, fifty-one animals died at the National Park and around 202 have been rescued.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal visited localities in Dhemaji on Tuesday to review the flood situation and directed officials to speed up with the repair works of embankments.
Earlier in June, Oil India’s Baghjan Oil field in Tinsukia District caught fire and was brought under control after a struggle of 36 days on tuesday. Assam is left in shambles, facing multiple disasters at one go.  Assam’s flood situation requires a long term measure rather than a frivolous attitude of the Center.
Due to its geographical position, Assam receives heavy rainfall during monsoon every year causing flood-like situations but this year’s a major disaster after 2017 floods. It gets alarming that during a pandemic that requires social distancing and proper sanitation, how will the victims practice the precautionary measures when even the chances of survival are getting meek with each passing day.
Image Source – Guwahati Times
