From Our Correspondent
Guwahati: The current wave of flood in Assam has so far claimed 61 lives while another 16 persons were killed in rain-induced landslides in two districts of Kamrup and Dima Hasao. Ten persons have been reported missing due to flood that has inundated vast areas in 23 out of the total 27 districts in the State.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit the State on Monday to take stock of the flood situation. The PM is expected to make an aerial survey of the flood scene in the worst affected Majuli River Island in Jorhat district, an official source informed. Majuli River island in Brahmaputra River, has reeled under worst ever flood in its recent history.
The flood have deluged more than 2,166 villages under 113 revenue circles across 23 districts affecting a population about two million (20 lakhs) . “Although the rain has eased since yesterday and the water level in rivers is showing a receding trend , the flood situation still remains grim,” Assam Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka said.
About five lakh flood-hit people are lodged in 768 relief camps set by the administration. So far over 2.2 lakh marooned persons have been evacuated from various parts of the State. The State has deployed 16 teams of NDRF, seven teams of Army and 20 teams of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in flood relief and rescue operation.
The NDRF teams have been deployed in districts of Barpeta, Dhemaji, Dima Hasao, Jorhat, Kamrup (metro), Kamrup, North Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur and Tinsukia. Seven teams of Army have been deployed in flood relief and rescue operation in districts of Barpeta, Dhemaji, Dima Hasao, Sivasagar, Sonitpur and Tinsukia.
The Indian Air Force choppers were used to evacuate some distressed people in remote parts of Dhemaji and Tinsukia districts.
Assam government is preparing to provide Rs 1.5 lakh as ex-gratia payment to the next of kin of each of those killed due to flood and landslides in the State.
The Prime Minister has announced Rs one lakh compensation against each of the deceased and equal amount of compensation has been announced by the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to be paid from his relief fund.
Meanwhile, the ULFA on Sunday, opposed the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to Assam ton Monday to tour the flood-affected areas.
The outfit, however, refrained from calling a state-wide bandh in view of the prevailing serious flood situation.
ULFA ‘assistant information and publicity secretary’ ‘Lt’ Arunudoy Dohotia said
ULFA had refrained from calling a bandh against their visit due to the prevailing ’emergency’ situation because of the floods.
The outfit has been calling bandh against any visit by Dr Singh and Ms Gandhi to the state as a mark of protest and also trying to indulge in subversive activities prior to their trips.
The two leaders are scheduled to visit the state tomorrow and make an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas. The floods have so far claimed over 77 people, affecting more than 10 lakh population in 21 districts of the state. (With inputs from UNI)