In Assam, 23 more people died in the last 24 hours due to floods. Dalai Lama assures help to the flood ravaged people in the state
by Bhupen Goswami
GUWAHATI: A police officer and a constable on a mission to rescue stranded people in Central Assam’s Nagaon were swept away in the strong currents of the Kopili river on Sunday, taking the death toll in the ongoing wave of flood to 23 in 24 hours and an overall 113. The casualties were entitled to another day of suffering for the state divided into two islands of despair from the flooding, the Brahmaputra Valley and the Barak Valley on the other side.
More than 50 lakh have taken shelter in 1521 temporary relief camps. Meanwhile, Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Tuesday pledged to donate to flood-ravaged Assam “as a symbol of my solidarity” with the people of the state. In a letter to Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, the Dalai Lama expressed concern about unprecedented rains and floods in the state, causing huge losses to people, displacing lakhs of people and causing destruction of property.It is most unfortunate that monsoon rains in Assam and other parts of India seem to be wreaking havoc year after year. I want to express my sorrow about the hardship suffered by so many people in your State due to the recent floods. I convey my deepest condolences to you, to the families who have lost loved ones, and to all affected by the floods,” he said in the letter.
The Tibetan leader appreciated the efforts of the agencies involved in the rescue and relief operations, who said they were doing “everything they can to rescue and provide relief to the affected people”. “As a token of my solidarity with the people of Assam, I am donating from the Dalai Lama’s Gaden Fodrang Trust to support those efforts. A total of 89,62,266 people from 15,424 villages in 32 districts have been affected by floods in the last 24 hours. The floods have affected a total of 125 revenue circles. Vehicular movement on national highways in Silchar and Northeast India is suspended due to submergence of flood waters at a depth of more than 50 cm from both sides of the 4-lane highways. Vehicular movement from Rongpur Barak Bridge Point to Rongpur police outpost will remain suspended with immediate effect. In Assam, the flood situation in Silchar is deteriorating rapidly. Assam has been reeling under floods and landslides for the past eight days, starting june 13. In the last 24 hours, 23 human lives were lost in the floods and a total of 113 human lives (84 in floods and 28 in landslides) have been lost in assam floods. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have assured help to the flood affected people of Assam and the North East. The PM said the central team will visit Assam soon.
