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'Never seen such disaster': Silchar drowns in flood, 2.8 lakh in Cachar remain stuck

The death toll due to flood and landslides in Assam since April mounted to 107, of which 20 were in the Cachar district
Last Updated 24 June 2022, 03:03 IST

The administration of South Assam's Cachar district on Thursday said that they have never before seen such a disaser before and they would 'fight till last moment' to rescue people as the flood wreaked havoc in Silchar and its adjoining areas disrupting communication system and rescue operations.

The district administration said that over 2.8 lakh people, mostly in the district headquarters, Silchar and its adjoining areas remained stuck in flood and the administration struggled to rescue the marooned people and provide them food and drinking water.

In a video message, Cachar deputy commissioner, Keerthi Jalli said that government workers, officers, suppliers of food items and drivers were stuck in flood water badly disrupting their work.

"This has made our job very difficult. We are unable to provide optimum help because of the situation. Mobile network refuelling is required but water currents are too strong so our boats are unable to reach. I want to request everyone not to attack our workers. We are committed to help you and trying hard to reach you with water and food items," she said adding that 2.8 lakh people remained affected in the flood in Silchar and nearby areas.

"We are trying to airdrop water and food items. So I would like to request you to keep your roof vacant so that we can airdrop drinking water and food items. We will fight till the last moment," she added.

Heavy rains on the hills of adjoining Meghalaya and Mizoram swelled the water level in the Barak river causing breach in an embankment. This made the flood situation in Silchar and adjoining areas grim.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made an aerial survey of Silchar (Cachar) and neighbouring Karimganj and Hailakandi district on Thursday in an IAF helicopter. Sarma said food items and drinking water bottles are being airdropped but it may take another 48-hours to bring the situation under control. "If there is no more rain, things will improve soon," he told reporters.

The NDRF personnel are carrying out rescue operations but they could not reach out to many badly hit areas. NDRF personnel from Odisha were airdropped at Silchar on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The death toll due to flood and landslides in Assam since April mounted to 107 with reports of seven more deaths from Cachar (2), Barpeta (2), Bajali, Dhubri and Tamulpur (one each) districts in the past 24 hours. Of the death tolls, 20 deaths have been reported in Cachar district. Over 71,000 people have been provided shelter in relief camps in Cachar district.

The daily flood bulletin issued by Assam State Disaster Management Authority on Thursday evening said the number of affected people came down to 45. 34 lakh in 30 districts. The number was over 54 lakh on Wednesday.

Over 2.48 lakh people are still taking shelter in relief camps while cropland of over one lakh hectares has been damaged in the flood.

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(Published 23 June 2022, 08:06 IST)

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