142 people die due to flood and COVID19 in Assam, a big challenge for the government to deal with both

Guwahati, July 20: Assam is now fighting with both COVID19 and floods, which together have so far claimed 142 lives.

85 people have lost their lives due to floods while 57 others died due to COVID-19 in the state.

The state has so far registered nearly 24,000 positive cases for COVID-19.

On the other hand, the flood havoc is continued in Assam as over 25 lakh people of 24 districts are still affected in the current spate of flood.

Many people in the state have faced hardships due to both COVID-19 and floods and many of them are facing food crisis also.

This year, Assam hits by the devastating flood third times within two months.

Over 54 lakh people of 30 districts out of 33 districts of the state have been affected in this year’s flood so far.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management (ASDMA) authority, nearly 51,000 people are currently taking shelter at 302 relief camps set up by the administration in the flood-hit districts, but thousands of other people are living on roads, embankments after the floodwaters entered their homes.

The government is appealing the people to maintain social distancing norms to curb the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19), but the reality is far different.

Social distancing norms have not been followed at the relief camps or on roads where the flood victims are being forced to live.

Hundreds of flood-affected people are being forced to live within a compact area.

Now it has become a big challenge for the state government to deal with both flood and COVID-19.

After defeating COVID-19 two 80 plus aged women now become a source of inspiration for other patients, Assam government to set up six more plasma bank

Guwahati, July 20: Given a sharp spike in the numbers of COVID-19 positive cases in the state, the Assam government has started an extensive campaign to encourage plasma bank donations in the state.

A plasma bank in Guwahati has already started and the plasma therapy has been administered to the COVID-19 patients at Guwahati Medical College Hospital, Mahendra Mohan Choudhury Hospital.

The state government will set up six more plasma collection centres at Silchar, Diphu, Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Barpeta and Jorhat.

On the other hand, despite the old age, two 80 plus aged women of Assam have now become a source of inspiration for other COVID-19 patients by defeating the deadly virus.

First cleanest village of Assam submerged in floods

First cleanest Belona village of Assam is submerged under the floodwaters from the Pahumara river as the monsoon floods have created devastating effects in more than 28 districts of the state.

As a local villager informed, “Belona village is facing severe water shortages. The village will have to be reconstructed. This is a severe distress situation. Food items are deficient. We have no food to give to the animals. Everything has gone underwater.“

Belona village, located in Bajali sub-division of Assam’s Barpeta district was recognized as the state’s first ‘Clean and Green’ village early in October last year.

The title had brought the village great praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had congratulated the village and Assam government on 8th October in a tweet which said, “Very good! Cleanliness powered by community initiatives is always wonderful to see. Congratulations to everyone who has worked on this Swachhata effort.“

Very good! Cleanliness powered by community initiatives is always wonderful to see. Congratulations to everyone who has worked on this Swachhata effort. https://t.co/gfZNpsRzkB

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 8, 2019

However, the recent deluge from the Pahumara river in the region has devoured Belona and nearby villages. Pathshala village, also located in the same district which was praised by the Prime Minister earlier this year for being recognised as a new clean village in the state has also gone under river water.

BJP district president, Nagen Chaudhury said, “I have already got in touch with helping hands. I will arrange for food items for the people residing in the area. I will try and reconstruct the village back to its old form as soon as the water recedes.“

The Assam floods have had devastating effects in over 28 districts and on the lives of more than 33 lakh individuals claiming several lives and causing huge damage to property.

Assam government orders judicial probe into illegal coal mining in Dehing Patkai

Guwahati, July 19: Assam government has constituted a one-man commission to probe into the allegations made against coal mining at Dehing Patkai Wildlife Sanctuary.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday ordered the judicial inquiry and retired Justice of Gauhati High Court Justice Brajendra Prasad Kataki is entrusted with the responsibility to conduct the inquiry.

Several PILs were filed at Gauhati High Court in which allegations were raised on legal and illegal mining of coal at the Wildlife Sanctuary.

Dehing Patkai also known as Amazon of North East and it covers an area of 111.942 sq km which is spread over Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts.

Assam Chief Minister Sonowal entrusted retired Justice Brajendra Prasad Kataki with the responsibility to investigate the allegations against coal mining in the sanctuary since 2003.

Retired Justice Kataki is also engaged by National Green Tribunal to inquire into the gas well fire incident of OIL at Baghjan in Tinsukia district and he is presently serving as Chairman of Police Accountability Commission.