Dibrugarh (Assam) [India], June 15 (HBTV): Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday visited the flood and erosion-affected areas of Balijan in Chabua, Dibrugarh, where he interacted with residents and assessed the situation on the ground.

He also visited the Kordoiguri area in Tinsukia district to gauge the extent of damage caused by the floods.

During the visit, the Union Minister reviewed the precautionary measures being taken in response to the floods, as well as efforts to curb riverbank erosion. He was accompanied by senior government officials and Pijush Hazarika, Assam’s Minister of Water Resources, who briefed him on the ongoing relief and mitigation work.

Emphasising the need for timely support, Sonowal directed officials to ensure uninterrupted relief and rehabilitation measures for the affected communities.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), 20 people have died due to floods in the state so far this year, while six others have lost their lives in landslides. On June 9, three children drowned in floodwaters in the Kamalpur area of Kamrup district.

Nearly 2.60 lakh people across 11 districts — including Hailakandi, Sribhumi, Morigaon, Kamrup, Goalpara, Cachar, Nagaon, Kamrup (M), Darrang, Lakhimpur, and Golaghat — remain affected by the ongoing deluge.

The ASDMA flood report stated that 1,62,108 people are affected in Sribhumi district, 51,663 in Hailakandi, and 36,271 in Cachar.

Floodwaters have inundated approximately 741 villages across 32 revenue circles, with 6,311.16 hectares of cropland currently submerged.

More than 31,000 people are taking shelter in 130 relief camps and distribution centres across the flood-hit districts.

The report also noted that seven animals have died in Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve due to the floods, while park authorities have rescued 31 others.

Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited the flood-affected districts of Hailakandi and Sribhumi, where he reviewed the prevailing conditions with district administrations and other line departments. He assured the affected people that all necessary government support would be extended to restore normalcy once the floodwaters recede.

During his day-long visit on Friday, the Chief Minister also visited relief camps at Kalinagar and Panch Gram, where he interacted with displaced residents and promised comprehensive government assistance to ease their hardships.

(ANI)