Severe floods hit in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh
New Delhi | Correspondent: Continuous heavy rains in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have caused rivers to overflow, leading to severe flooding across cities and villages. The situation is extreme, with widespread devastation and homes submerged in water.
The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for heavy rains in various districts, warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall in areas near the Brahmaputra and its tributaries. This alert covers all northeastern states.
Rising Flood Impact
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority reports that the number of flood-affected districts has risen from 12 to 19. Approximately 6.44 lakh people have been impacted by the floods. In response to potential landslides, schools in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, will remain closed from July two to July six.
Floods have severely affected more than 6.44 lakh people in 19 districts of Assam, resulting in over 60 fatalities.
Continuous rains have raised the water level of the Brahmaputra River, submerging districts like Nagaon and Dibrugarh.
Homes are filled with water up to the knees, and NDRF teams are actively conducting relief and rescue operations, relocating people to safer areas. Under ‘Operation Saviour,’ Assam Rifles have rescued 500 people from flood-affected areas.
Traffic Control Measures
In light of the flood situation, officials have announced that all passenger vehicles, both private and commercial, will be allowed to move under strict speed control.
Police and force staff will manage vehicle movement every half hour, with pilot vehicles stationed at Bagori border and Panbari coordinating with Nagaon police and forest staff to ensure safe passage.
Wildlife Impact
The flood situation in Assam has worsened, causing the water levels to rise significantly.
This has affected more than 26 percent of the 233 forest camps in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve. Animals are now seeking safe places to escape the rising waters.
Due to incessant rains, many districts in Assam have been submerged, impacting lakhs of people.
A large part of the wildlife habitat in the state is now underwater, forcing animals to cross National Highway-715 in search of higher ground in East Karbi Anglong district. Fortunately, no animal deaths have been reported from the floods or from crossing the highway.
A report on the floods in Assam indicates that 61 forest camps in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve are submerged. Specifically, 22 camps in the Agoratoli range, 10 in Kaziranga, eight in Bagori, five in Burhapahar, and six in Bokakhat have been affected. Additionally, 10 forest camps in the Vishwanath Wildlife Division are underwater.
Section 144 Enforced for Animal Safety
To protect the animals crossing NH-715, the Golaghat district administration issued precautionary orders under Section 144 of the CrPC on Sunday evening.
Golaghat District Magistrate Vivek Shyam Pangyok highlighted the increased risk to wildlife from the heavy traffic on the highway during floods. Animals use the highway corridors to migrate temporarily to the hills in the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council area for shelter.
Traffic Management Orders Issued
Starting Monday, new traffic management orders are in place for NH-715 through Kaziranga National Park. Commercial vehicles are banned from passing through the park.
Only private vehicles can travel at regulated speeds during the day, and only local private vehicles are allowed at night. The orders also include various traffic diversion points for both commercial and private vehicles.
Government Response
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inquired about Assam’s flood situation on Monday and assured all possible assistance to manage the crisis.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Army are on standby for emergencies, with MLAs and officials closely monitoring the situation.
