As several States continue to reel under floods and heavy rain that have claimed over 85 lives — 26 each in Assam and Bihar, 30 in Odisha, 3 in Meghalaya — and affected lakh people, the Centre on Saturday announced it will extend all help to the State Governments in dealing with the crisis.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday undertook an aerial survey of some of the flood-hit areas in Assam and termed the situation as “grim”. Besides Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and Bihar too are severely affected even as the Tamil Nadu Government issued a flood alert in low-lying areas in Krishnagiri district.
Put together, around 80 districts and nearly 50 lakh people are affected due to the floods in the four States.
At least 30 people were killed after being struck by lightning in different parts of Odisha on Saturday. Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik announced Rs 50,000 as compensation to the victims.
Rajnath Singh, who arrived in Assam, along with DoNER Minister Jitendra Singh, made an aerial survey of the flood-hit Morigaon, Nagaon districts and parts of Kaziranga National Park and reviewed the situation with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other senior bureaucrats.
“We have visited some of the flood-hit areas of Assam today to review the situation. After reviewing, I felt that the situation is very grim here. I have urged the Chief Minister to help the marooned people and the Centre will extend all help to the State Government in this regard,” Singh told the media before returning to Delhi.
He said that a total of 26 people have died in Assam floods in last one week and a total of 36 lakh people have been affected in 28 districts. The Assam Government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the flood victims, he said even as he appreciated the Chief Minister for handling the situation effectively.
“The State Government already has Rs 620 crore under the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF). We are going to give more funds upon utilisation and as per the requirement,” said Singh reiterating that funds will never be a problem for the State Government. “The Chief Minister has already submitted a memorandum to me and I am going to consider it after returning to New Delhi,” he added.
Asked if the Centre will consider Assam’s plea to declare flood as a national calamity, Singh said it is more important to find out the causes of the flood and to find out ways to mitigate the problem than to declare Assam’s flood as a national problem.
He said the Centre has already asked the State Government to prepare an action plan to end the problem and stressed on strengthening and repairing of embankments along the rivers and tributaries.
Flood situation in Uttar Pradesh too remained a cause of concern as all major rivers of Terai region continued to flow above or near the danger mark due to continuous downpour in the upper Himalayan reaches and excess water release from barrages.
In all, over two lakh people in around 52 Tehsils of 20 districts are affected with most of them being in Siddharthanagar, Pilibhit, Barabanki, Basti, Kushinagar and Badaun. The administration has established 41 relief camps in the affected districts.
In Bihar, the flood situation showed no signs of improvement with 26 people reported to have died in flood related incidents in the State. Surging water of Mahananda River is spreading in Katihar, Purnia and Kishanganj following heavy rain in catchment areas of Nepal. Supaul, Purnia and Kishanganj too are hit. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the embankments would be constructed on river Mahananda in five phases and that the Principal Secretary of Agriculture Department has been made the Special Commissioner in Katihar to oversee the relief operation.
He has also instructed distribution of 2,000 quintals of food grains among flood victims every day.
Down South, in Tamil Nadu, flood alert has been issued in low lying areas near south Pennai River in Krishnagiri district even as heavy rains hit normal life in many parts of Salem district. Chennai MeT office said the south west monsoon has been vigorous over north Tamil Nadu.
Heavy rain in neighbouring Karnataka has led to an increased inflow of water into rivers and lakes in Krishnagiri and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu.