Assam floods crisis deepens: 1.6 lakh people affected across 14 districts, death toll rises to 95

NEW DELHI: The death toll from the devastating floods in Assam rose to 95 after six more people died, while more than 1.6 lakh people remained affected across 14 districts, officials said on Thursday.According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), six deaths were reported on Wednesday, two each in Sivasagar and Biswanath districts, and one each in Golaghat and Morigaon.Sivasagar continues to be the worst-affected district, accounting for 50 of the 95 deaths reported so far.Neighbouring Charaideo has recorded 21 fatalities, followed by Jorhat (9), Golaghat (5), Dhemaji (3), Karbi Anglong (2) and Biswanath (2). One death each has also been reported from Sonitpur, Kamrup Metropolitan and Morigaon.The floods have affected over 1,60,600 people in Biswanath, Charaideo, Darrang, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong, Lakhimpur, Nagaon, Sivasagar, Sonitpur, Tinsukia and Udalguri districts.Sivasagar alone has around 57,000 affected residents, followed by Golaghat (34,000) and Jorhat (25,000). The number of affected people has risen sharply from 1.22 lakh in five districts reported on Tuesday. Authorities have set up more than 100 relief camps and relief distribution centres across six districts, where 44,523 people are currently taking shelter.Floodwaters have submerged 16,951.76 hectares of cropland, while embankments, roads, bridges and other public infrastructure have suffered extensive damage in several parts of the state.Union health and family welfare minister J P Nadda, who was deputed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, visited the flood-hit Nepalikhuti area along the Assam-Nagaland border in Sivasagar district on Wednesday, one of the regions worst affected by the latest wave of floods that began on July 19.Later in the day, Nadda chaired a high-level review meeting with Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and senior state officials to assess the flood situation and review ongoing relief, rehabilitation and healthcare measures. "I have visited the flood-hit Nepalikhuti area. Along with CM Sarma, I have witnessed the scale of devastation. The damage is so huge that it will take time (for normalcy to return)," Nadda told reporters after interacting with flood-affected families."The Central Government and the State Government have stood with complete sensitivity and utmost promptness beside every flood-affected family. We are continuing the relief and rehabilitation efforts with full commitment. I assure everyone that there will be no lapses of any kind in the relief and rescue operations. Teams of Central Government representatives are conducting extensive assessments of the flood damages, and all kinds of financial assistance are being extended," he added.Nadda is scheduled to visit Yazali in Arunachal Pradesh on Thursday to inspect areas affected by flash floods and interact with affected residents. During the visit, Nadda will chair a review meeting with state government officials to assess the health situation and review ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts in the region.The visit is part of his three-day tour of the Northeast from August 4 to 6.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.