Assam floods: Death toll mounts to 19; over 44 lakh hit as Centre release 251.55 crore aid

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to look at Assam floods as a national disaster. Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said because of Prime Minister Modi’s grave concern about the

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has agreed to look at Assam floods as a national disaster.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said because of Prime Minister Modi’s grave concern about the situation, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Sekhawat on Tuesday toured the flood-hit areas even as the Centre released a disaster relief assistance of 251.55 crore rupees.

Sonowal said the Niti Aayog is setting a high-level committee for a scientific approach to bring about a permanent solution to the decade old flood and erosion problem of Assam.

The Centre is also setting up a Northeast Water Management Authority to evolve means to deal with this annual problem and move towards a permanent solution.

Meanwhile, Assam Finance Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah for granting the amount. He took to twitter to thank the Central leadership.

I thank Hon PM Sri @narendramodi and HM Sri @AmitShah for prompt release of ₹251.55 cr grants-in-aid to #Assam towards central share of SDRF for 2019-20.

This shall immensely help in relief operations and mitigating sufferings of people affected by #AssamFloods.@PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/SqsIZg79WZ

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 16, 2019

19 people are dead and over 44 lakh people affected by the deluge as per the latest reports. More than 4,000 villages in 30 districts of the state have been hit by severe floods.

Over 84,000 affected people are living in the 187 relief camps set up to take care of those rendered homeless.

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