The flood in Assam is a hardy perennial. But this was the severest since 2004. It has turned for the worse in a number of days and the death toll touched twenty four. The situation in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh was equally grim. The situation in Majuli, Asia’s largest river island, which is in Assam and Kaziranga National Park looked dismal. Six Vaishnava monasteries have been submerged. Over ten lakh people have been affected and more than 1.5 lakh hectares of crop areas have been damaged. The Centre has promptly taken action. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has announced an ex gratia of Rs. 1 lakh to family members of those killed by the deluge. Thousands of people are homeless. Large sections of NH6 have been swallowed up. Links between Tripura, Silchar and Imphal have been severed. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is likely to visit the state soon. The Congress in the state has distributed 1,000 quintals of rice and other essential items to the flood victims in Majuli. A special train has been pressed into service between Lumding and Mupa. Another passenger special train has already left Silchar. In Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian Air Force chopper has rescued 100 villagers.
It is only natural that the BJP has asked Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Disaster Management Minister Prithibi Majhi to cut short their foreign visit and return to the state. It is unthinkable that the state Chief Minister can be away when there is a crisis in Assam. It has to be admitted that the authorities have done their best to tackle the menace. The fact remains that Assam experiences such a tragedy every year. It is good to know that the state has a Disaster Management Minister. What has he done so far to prevent recurrence of the natural calamity?