Guwahati/Imphal: Floods triggered by ‘enhanced rainfall and cyclonic circulation over Northeast’ have claimed eight lives in Assam and four in Manipur since Thursday.
As per the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati, Assam is experiencing enhanced rainfall that will continue till 4 June in certain places as the southwest monsoon advances into the remaining parts of the Northeast, including Meghalaya, Tripura and Assam.
The floods have affected nearly 3.5 lakh people across 11 districts in Assam. Six deaths were reported Friday from Cachar, Hailakandi and Karbi Anglong districts.
A total of 560 villages under 25 revenue circles have been swamped by the swollen river Brahmaputra and its tributaries with maximum damage reported from Cachar district.
According to data compiled by the state Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS) on 31 May, more than a lakh population in Cachar’s Udharbond, Katigorah, Silchar, Lakhipur and Sonai revenue circles were affected. In many places, roads, bridges and culverts have been washed away.
Over 28,300 people, including 5,517 children and 11 pregnant or lactating mothers are taking shelter in relief camps. At least 187 relief camps and 39 relief centres have been set up.
Schools and Anganwadi centres have been affected in Dibrugarh district, and a number of bunds and canals were damaged in Karbi Anglong.
Rescue agencies, including National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and Fire and Emergency Services (F&ES), have evacuated at least 615 people from submerged areas so far. Around 60 cattle have been evacuated in local country boats from Hojai and Karimganj areas.
The Prime Minister’s Office Friday announced ex gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister National Relief Fund “for the next of kin of each deceased due to the natural disasters” in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal. The injured would be given Rs 50,000 each.
An ex-gratia of Rs. 2 lakh from PMNRF would be given to the next of kin of each deceased due to the natural disasters in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000 each: PM @narendramodi
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 31, 2024
Also read: Toll rises to 23 in Mizoram, 3 in Assam as Cyclone Remal triggers storms, landslides in Northeast
Water levels recede in Imphal
The death toll in Manipur due to floods rose to four Saturday. However, the water level in Imphal and Nambul rivers has shown a receding trend, state authorities confirmed.
With the decrease in water level, people were seen thronging the market area in the capital city to buy groceries. Due to overflow of river water, almost the entire Imphal city was inundated.
The main market of Khwairamband Keithel and other prominent areas, including the Governor’s House, administrative buildings, the historic Kangla Fort, college and school campuses, experienced severe flooding.
On Friday evening, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to Chief Minister N. Biren Singh over phone and taken stock of the flood situation in the state.
Following this, CM Biren Singh took to social media to announce that the Union minister has assured the state of all possible support from the central government.
Earlier today, I received a call from Hon’ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji regarding the flood situation in Manipur following Cyclone Remal. Expressing his deep concern about the situation, Shri Amit Shah Ji has assured us of all possible support from the central government…
— N.Biren Singh (Modi Ka Parivar) (@NBirenSingh) May 31, 2024
A report provided by the state Minister for Water Resources, Awangbow Newmai, said that a total of 1.88 lakh people have been affected by floods in Manipur following incessant rainfall in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal. More than 24,000 houses have submerged in the past few days and altogether 18,103 people have been evacuated and 56 relief camps set up.
“With concerted efforts of all sections of the society, the state government is confident it’ll tide over the challenge and provide all necessary aid to all those affected by the flood. The people are further urged not to panic and to extend all possible cooperation to the rescue volunteers and teams,” Awangbow told media persons in Imphal.
Earlier Friday, CM Biren Singh had also chaired a meeting with ministers, MLAs, chief secretary, security officials and all department officials to review the flood situation in the state and ongoing measures to provide necessary aid and assistance to the affected families.
In an X post, he said: “Out of the 18 spots where the breach occurred in the embankments of rivers, 17 were sealed and the flooding in the surrounding areas have been successfully brought under control. The efforts to seal the remaining breach and the work to reinforce the embankments are underway.”
In another post, Singh said that since the collapse of the old Irang bridge, efforts were on to restore vehicular movement along the National Highway-37 through the recently constructed bridge.
A multi-agency approach has been undertaken involving teams of the NDRF, SDRF, Indian Army, Assam Rifles, state police and fire services along with district administration and local volunteers. Earlier, a team of 40 members from NDRF along with six life boats reached Imphal.
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