GUWAHATI: In view of the unrelenting flood fury, Prime Minister Narendra Modi called up Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal again on Monday and asked about the relief measures, rescue operations, setting up of relief camps for flood victims, scale of damage to life and property, supply of children’s food, animal fodder etc.
The devastation caused to the lives and property by the current wave of flood which has taken over 20 lives besides rendering over 12 lakhs homeless, has forced Assam government to decide to celebrate Independence Day sans much fanfare and without the ritual high tea associated with it.
In view of the critical flood situation in the state, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday directed cancelation of high tea programme included in the schedule of state level celebrations of 71st Independence Day here.
“The current wave of flood has caused massive destruction and damage in 21 districts of the state and the flood affected people have been facing a lot of hardships in coping with the loss of lives and property. Sympathising with the sufferings of flood victims, the Chief Minister directed the Chief Secretary of the state to cancel the high tea programme during 71s Independence Day celebrations,” a communique from the CM’s office said.
Meanwhile, entire North-eastern region of the country has been cut off from the rest of the country through the rail link. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) headquarter here informed that heavy rainfall in the last 72 hours in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam and other NE states has resulted in railway operations being severely hampered as rain water has affected railway tracks at several places in Katihar and Alipurduar Division of the NFR.
The NFR today cancelled 11 down trains in addition to 22 trains which had been cancelled during the last couple of days.
The Railway Board has also decided to cancel all incoming trains from various parts of the country towards NE Region which were to reach either Katihar or Malda Town till 10 A.M. on August 6 next.
Assam Chief Minister talked over phone with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi today and urged him to extend all cooperation in ensuring the safety and other essential requirements of train passengers from Assam and other states of the Northeast stuck at Kishanganj Rail Station and other places in Bihar due to flood. Sushil Modi assured of taking measures for these passengers’ safety and all help in this regard.