Title - Rs 500 cr for flood-hit Assam

Guwahati : Moved by the plight of lakhs of flood-hit in Assam, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today announced an initial financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the flood-ravaged state, where floods and landslides have claimed 81 lives so far. The PM was in the state along with the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi to make an aerial survey of the havoc caused by floods in three eastern Assam districts of - Jorhat, North Lakhimpur and Dhemaji. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and state PWD minister Ajanta Neog accompanied the PM and Sonia Gandhi during the survey.“I have made an aerial survey of the three flood-affected districts in Assam. Floods have caused extensive damage. The state is facing one of the worst floods in the recent years. The floods have damaged crops, embankments, roads and infrastructure,” Dr Singh told the media after surveying the area. The current wave of floods has claimed 65 lives in the state so far, while another 16 persons have died in the landslides that occurred in the districts of Kamrup (metro), Dima Hasao and Cachar.Dr Singh said a final financial package would be announced for the flood-ravaged state after receiving reports from the Central government teams engaged in assessing the damage.“A Central team has already reached the state and another team will arrive soon to assess the damage. The team members will assess the damage caused to roads, bridges, government buildings, supply links, etc, and submit a report,” he said before returning to New Delhi. The Prime Minister said, “The Centre and the state governments are working closely to provide relief to those hit by the floods. The focus now is on rescuing marooned people.” The Prime Minister said the state government had adequate stocks of foodgrains and essentials. The Centre was ready to rush additional supplies. He stated that the Ministry of Railways would take early steps to restore the stretch of railway tracks damaged by the landslides in Dima Hasao district, cutting off Barak Valley in South Assam, Tripura and Mizoram.

Meanwhile, the Brahmaputra was still flowing above the danger mark at Nematighat (Jorhat), Guwahati, Goalpara and Dhubri, while it’s tributary Kopili was flowing over the red mark at Dharamtul in Morigaon district.

The flood has submerged about 6,57,558 hectares of crop land, besides causing 42 breaches in embankments on the Brahmaputra and 14 other tributaries.

Final package soon
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said a final financial package would be announced for the flood-ravaged state after receiving reports from the Central government teams engaged in assessing the damages