Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has called on the central government to dispatch a National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team to flood-hit Assam, which has been inundated by heavy rains over the past several days. Representing Jorhat, Gogoi also urged the Union Jal Shakti Minister to visit the state, expressing his concerns over the severe situation where embankments have been breached and river water levels have risen significantly.
“I am present here but my mind and focus are on the floods in Assam,” Gogoi stated, highlighting the dangerous conditions. He drew parallels to similar flooding issues in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, emphasizing the need for immediate government intervention and support.
Earlier in the day, the Indian Air Force (IAF) successfully rescued 13 fishermen who had been stranded on a small island in the Brahmaputra River in the northern Dibrugarh region of Assam due to rising water levels. Efforts by the NDRF, SDRF, and Inland Water Transport boats to rescue the fishermen had been hampered by extreme currents and high water levels, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The flood situation has also critically impacted Kaziranga National Park, submerging 95 of the park’s 233 forest camps. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the crisis, attributing the second wave of floods this year to heavy rains in Assam’s upper districts and neighboring Arunachal Pradesh. Sarma assured the Prime Minister of the state government’s ongoing relief efforts, and Modi, in turn, promised full cooperation from the Centre.
As of July 1, the floods have affected 19 districts in Assam, with the death toll rising to 35, according to ASDMA data. Thousands of residents have sought shelter in relief camps set up across the state. The Indian Meteorological Department has predicted continued heavy rainfall in Assam over the next few days, exacerbating the already critical situation.
