Centre provides Rs 340 cr for flood-hit Assam; toll mounts to 28

GUWAHATI: The central government  is  releasing Rs 340 crore, including Rs 239 crore under National Disaster Relief Fund (NDRF), for the flood-affected Assam  even as  the death toll in Assam floods mounted to 28 on Tuesday.
The number of affected districts that had come down to five yesterday rose to six today, according to an  official flood bulletin released today.
The affected population, however, decreased to 71,000, while the inmates in relief camps also came down.  About six lakh people were affected during the peak of the first wave of flood this year.
However, the death toll increased to 28 with two casualties reported from Kokrajhar district in last 24 hours.
Meanwhile, MoS for DoNER Dr Jitendra Singh who was in the state to review the flood situation informed today, “The Central government is monitoring the (Assam flood) situation on a daily basis and we have assured the state government of providing all kinds of assistance.”
He said the Ministry of Home Affairs, through its NDRF, has ordered immediate release of Rs 239 crore as first installment for the State Disaster Relief Fund (SDRF).
Another amount of Rs 101 crore is being released by Ministry for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) towards repair of damaged infrastructure, taking the toll amount to Rs 340 crore, the Union MoS added.
Dr Singh said he has asked the state government to place its requirement and DoNER ministry shall take it up with the MHA.
Noting that the first wave of floods hit the state early this year, he complimented the ‘prompt and timely’ action of the state government towards rescue and relief operations.
He further said, during the review meeting, he has suggested to the state Chief Secretary and other government officials to take pre-emptive steps against outbreak of any health epidemics in the affected areas.