Assam floods: Army called in for rescue ops as situation deteriorates

Guwahati: With flood situation deteriorating, the Army was called out to rescue marooned people and Indian Air Force (IAF) has been put on standby in Assam.

At least 14 people, including a minor were reported to have died due to second wave of floods, which has wreaked havoc in 19 out of 33 districts of the state.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal over telephone and enquired about the scale of devastation caused by the current wave of flood in the state.

Sonowal apprised the prime minister about the various measures taken by the state government to provide relief to the flood-affected people. He also informed the PM that the administrations of all 19 flood-hit districts have been directed to ensure speedy relief distribution to the victims.

Modi assured the chief minister of all kind of cooperation from the central government in overcoming the havoc caused by floods.

The Principal Secretary of Prime Minister’s Office Nripendra Mishra also directed Assam Chief Secretary VK Pipersenia to submit a report to the PMO detailing the damage and devastation caused by the current wave of floods in the state. 

Assam State Disaster Management Authority said that the Army has been called out to assist the local administration in rescuing marooned people in Nagaon and Kokrajhar districts.

“On Assam government's request, IAF has also put its men on standby, their choppers can be deployed in minimum time for air dropping of relief and rescue operations,” state project coordinator of disaster management Rajib Prakash Baruah said.

“We have also deployed additional forces from National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response force,” said Baruah.