Challenges Persist in Flood Relief Efforts in Upper Assam

Ongoing Relief Operations in Flood-Affected Areas

Guwahati, July 24: Relief efforts are ongoing in the flood-affected regions of Upper Assam, but officials are encountering significant obstacles in reaching thousands of stranded individuals in Sivasagar and Charaideo due to thick mud, damaged roads, and isolated villages, as stated by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday.

During a press briefing at Lok Sewa Bhawan, following a meeting with officials to assess flood response strategies, Sarma noted that while relief has reached every impacted village in Charaideo, approximately 30% of the Nazira Assembly constituency in Sivasagar remains unreachable.

"Despite the receding floodwaters in many areas, roads are still covered in thick mud, making it impossible for vehicles to navigate and for people to walk in several locations. These regions are effectively cut off from access," he explained.

The Chief Minister estimated that around 50,000 individuals in Nazira and an additional 30,000 in other parts of Sivasagar have yet to receive consistent relief due to the challenging terrain.

To address these logistical hurdles, the government has initiated the transport of relief supplies from Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, and Kamrup Metropolitan, while also deploying extra country boats for final delivery.

"NDRF rubber boats are primarily designed for rescue missions and are not suitable for transporting large quantities of relief supplies. Hence, we are utilizing country boats for delivering food and essential items," Sarma added.

The current relief kits comprise rice, pulses, milk, biscuits, drinking water, sanitary napkins, bleaching powder, halogen tablets, and candles.

However, the Chief Minister pointed out that clothing has become one of the most pressing unmet needs.

"The government cannot provide clothing immediately. We can offer financial aid for affected families to purchase them. Currently, clothing and baby food are among the most urgent necessities," he stated.

The government has also tested drones for air-dropping relief supplies but found this method ineffective.

"When relief packets are dropped from drones or aircraft, they often burst upon landing. Unless recipients are trained to safely retrieve the packets, this approach is not practical. Traditional delivery methods are proving to be more dependable," Sarma remarked.

To avert disease outbreaks, mobile medical units, National Health Mission teams, and doctors from Jorhat Medical College have been deployed in the affected areas.

The Chief Minister mentioned that electricity supply has been temporarily halted in several regions as a precautionary measure since transformers are submerged.

"Approximately 40,000 consumers are without power, although mobile connectivity remains relatively stable," he noted.

Sarma also indicated that the government has instructed the Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, and Health Ministers to visit the affected districts once the floodwaters recede to conduct a comprehensive damage assessment.

Additionally, he announced the development of a mobile application that will allow assessment teams to upload photographs and field data to support a scientific post-disaster needs evaluation.

Furthermore, an inter-ministerial central team is scheduled to visit Assam on July 25 to evaluate the damage during the ongoing relief operations, which will assist the Centre in determining the state's needs for rehabilitation and reconstruction support.