As floods continue to ravage parts of the Northeast and Bihar, Home Minister Amit Shah in a tweet on Tuesday, 21 July, expressed grief at the loss of lives in the floods in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya.
“Loss of lives due to the floods in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya is very disturbing. I have spoken to the Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and assured him all possible help from the central government. Nation stands resolutely with the people of Meghalaya in these trying times”Amit Shah
According to The Times of India, at least five people have died and over a lakh have been affected by floods at the plain belt of the hills. Close to 175 villages have been affected, with most areas reportedly getting submerged under water.
IMD Predicts Heavy Rainfall in Bihar as Floods Destroy Homes
Indian Meteorological Department on Tuesday, 21 July, reportedly predicted heavy rainfall in Bihar for Tuesday and Wednesday. According to ANI, several parts of Sitamarhi in Bihar have also been affected due to floods in the region.
On Monday, ANI reported that the Bihar Disaster Management Department has written to district magistrates of Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur, Khagaria, Purvi Champaran, Samastipur and Begusarai, asking them to take necessary steps as IMD warns of heavy rains between 18 and 22 July, and flooding.
According to a report by IANS, Bihar, Patna, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda and Siwan have seen the havoc of coronavirus while floods have destroyed people's homes and livelihood in Madhepura, Gopalganj, West Champaran, Darbhanga, Khagaria, Sitamarhi and Muzaffarpur districts.
Disaster Management Dept on High Alert
The disaster management additional secretary reportedly informed News18 on Saturday that his department is on high alert following the rise in water level in various rivers of Bihar. Reportedly, almost all major rivers in Bihar have crossed the danger mark.
According to the News18 report, 30 blocks across eight districts have been flooded, and 147 panchayats of Sitamarhi, Shivhar, Supaul, Kishanganj, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Gopalganj and east Champaran have been partially affected and relief camps have been set up.
At least 10 people died in lightning strikes on Sunday, 19 July in Bihar, reported PTI. Meanwhile, according to the cumulative flood report on a Bihar disaster management department website, at least 3 lakh people have been affected by floods in the state.
A Disaster Management Department official reportedly told PTI that three people in Purnea, two in Begusarai and one each in Patna, Saharsa, East Champaran, Madhepura and Darbhanga districts died after being struck by lightning on Sunday.
The PTI report also suggested that more than 160 people have died due to lightning strikes in Bihar in the past three weeks.
Rajasthan’s former deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot on Saturday tweeted an appeal to all people of the country to unite in support of families affected by the floods in Assam and Bihar.
Assam Floods: Death Toll Reaches 87
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has announced that two more people have lost their lives in the floods, taking the death toll to 87, reported ANI.
The department, under the Government of Assam, said:
“Two more people have lost their lives in the floods in the state, taking the total death toll to 87. A total of 24,19,185 people are affected in 24 districts of the state due to the flood.”
ANI had previous reported that over 70 lakh people have been affected by the floods, while at least 108 animals, including nine rhinoceroses, have also reportedly died due to heavy flooding in the Kaziranga National Park.
According to EastMojo, six rivers in Assam are flowing above the danger mark, and the Brahmaputra river has crossed the danger line in Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sonitpur, Goalpara and Dhubri; Dhansiri in Numaligarh; Jia Bharali in Sonitpur; Kopili in Nagaon, Beki in Barpeta, and Kushiyara in Karimganj.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal told ANI:
“On one hand, people are troubled due to COVID-19 and on the other hand, there are challenges arising out of Assam floods. Still, the people of our state continue to fight the battle. Central and state government are providing all kinds of assistance to the people.”
Sonowal also told ANI that people, as well as animals, are being rescued from the affected areas and transported to relief camps and safer locations. The floods have been triggered by the rising water levels of the Brahmaputra river.
(With inputs from IANS, News18, EastMojo, PTI, ANI)
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