Assam floods: Over 37 lakh affected, 26 people killed, says Rajnath Singh

Guwahati: The Union home minister Rajnath Singh who arrived here on Saturday said that flood situation in Assam was grim but Centre is prepared to extend all help in tackling this catastrophe.

Floods in Assam have killed 26 people and affected nearly 37 lakh people across more than 3,300 villages in 28 districts of the state, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said.

Informing that central government will be sending an inter-ministerial team soon after his return to assess the damage, Mr Singh told reporters that instead of declaring the flood a national disaster, it was necessary to prepare a road-map to tackle this perennial problem of floods in Assam.

“Declaring floods as a national calamity is not a solution to the problem. There is a need for a action plan to deal with such serious flood situation,” said the home minister.

Mr Singh did not announce any financial package for the state but informed that an amount of Rs 620 crore of disaster relief was at the disposal of the state government.

“I have asked the chief minister to spend the money and intensify the flood relief operations. There will be no scarcity of fund for the flood relief operations,” said Rajnath Singh who also expressed satisfaction over the way Mr Sonowal and his team has been tackling disastrous flood situation of the state.

The Union minister said, “I met the flood victims in the relief camp to know if they are getting adequate relief. I am happy to share this with you that camp inmates were satisfied over the way, the state administration has reached them and helping.”