The flood situation in Assam remained bleak on Saturday, with the death toll in rain-related accidents reaching 62 and water affecting 7,05,000 people in nine districts, according to officials familiar with the matter, even as water levels began to fall in some parts.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) bulletin on Friday night, 14 people died in nine districts in the last 24 hours.
Read also: Death toll from Assam floods rises to 61. Another 14 people lost their lives: ASDMA
Prime Minister Modi reviews relief efforts with Himanta Sarma
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday asked Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for an update on the ongoing relief and rescue operations across the flood-affected areas. “He asked for an update on the extent of devastation, ongoing relief operations and the challenges we are facing on the ground. I briefed him on the actions being taken by the state government and our efforts to reach every affected family,” Sarma wrote on X.
“Expressing his deep condolences over the loss of lives and property, the Hon’ble Prime Minister assured the people of Assam that this disaster is of utmost priority and the Government of India will extend all possible support to help in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts,” Sarma added.
Read also: Death toll from Assam floods rises to 47, six more killed; More than 6.53 lakh people have been affected in 11 districts
The Israeli army and air force continue rescue operations
The Indian Army and Indian Air Force are also assisting the state government in relief operations.
According to ASDMA, seven people died in Charedo on Friday while six deaths were reported in Sivasagar and one in Jorhat. As of Thursday, there have been 21 deaths in Sivasagar alone, and with six others, the death toll in the district has reached 27. The ASDMA said one person is missing.
Also read: Why Assam floods: The obvious answer is Brahmaputra, but there is much more to it than that
Heavy rains continue in other states
Meanwhile, two workers died and four were injured after they were hit by a landslide while clearing debris from a stretch of road brought by an earlier landslide in Sikkim’s Namche district on Saturday afternoon, police said. Six workers were engaged in removing rubble blocking the road linking Sada and Phamtam villages when a new landslide hit the work site, burying the workers under the rubble.
In Gujarat, 35 rain-related deaths were reported over the past two days, officials said on Saturday, even as rainfall in the state eased. They added that 29 of these deaths occurred in Valsad and Navsari, two of the worst-hit areas, where more than 7,000 people were rescued in the past few days.
Relief Commissioner Gaurang Makwana said: “A total of 35 rain-related deaths have been reported so far in the state over the past two days, with bodies washed away by flood waters having been recovered and missing persons accounted for after the rains stopped and rescue operations were completed.”
Read also: Army deployed for rescue operations as heavy rains continue in Gujarat
Rain continued to lash several parts of Kashmir for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday. However, officials said the risk of flooding has decreased with water levels falling in most water bodies.
In Maharashtra, the Palghar district administration intensified the distribution of financial aid and relief packages to families affected by the floods during the first week of this month, which left 20 people dead, officials said.
Also read: Thane civic body sends relief team to flood-hit Dahanu in Palghar
As a gift from $4 lakh per family has been sanctioned for each eligible victim, and total financial assistance $She said that 32 lakh have already been disbursed to eight families. Officials said the process of releasing funds to the remaining families is underway.
