Rahul calls for action in Assam
MONSOON FURY | CMs review statewide flood damage and relief strategies Rahul Gandhi meets flood-hit people at Fulertal in Assam
Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi voiced his anguish over the large-scale losses due to floods in Assam and called for immediate relief, rehabilitation, and compensation for all affected communities.
"Innocent children like Avinash are being taken away from us," he said. Eight-yearold Avinash Sarkar who fell into an open drain in Guwahati.
He advocated a pan-Northeast water management authority and said “Assam needs a comprehensive and compassionate vision.” Congress leaders painted a grim picture: Over 60 lives lost, more than 53,000 people displaced. On Monday six more died. He said the numbers reflected BJP’s gross mismanagement and promised a “flood-free Assam”.
At least 131 wild animals have died so far in the Kaziranga
National Park. In neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh, surface communication was disrupted and its capital Itanagar was reeling under a severe water crisis, an official said.
‘Find permanent solution’ Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Monday directed officers to find a permanent solution to end flood damages. Chairing a review meeting, the CM said over 20 lakh people are affected by floods and landslides every year. "Identify distressed villages and implement permanent relief measures," he asked officials and directed them to clear pending compensation. Meanwhile, life came to a standstill in the coastal parts of Karnataka.
‘Avoid hills in the monsoon’ West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Monday asked tourists to avoid the hills during monsoons. “We have nine flood centres, where people have taken refuge,” she said, adding that the state bears the brunt as it is surrounded by rivers.
She said it was unfortunate that nobody from Bengal was invited when PM Narendra Modi met Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina. “They said that they will share water from Teesta with Bangladesh but where is the water in Teesta?” she said
Rain wreaks havoc across Rains continued to lash Goa, where at least five persons have died in wall collapse incidents over two days.
In Uttarakhand, the Char Dham Yatra resumed on Monday after remaining suspended for a day after weather in Garhwal region improved. Water released from Uttarakhand dams led to flooding in several districts in Uttar Pradesh. Over 70 roads in Himachal Pradesh were closed after rain triggered landslides.