'Special spiritual connection': West Bengal announces Rs 10 crore flood assistance to Assam

Describing the flood situation in Assam as "terrifying", West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday announced financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to the neighbouring state to help it deal with the crisis.

He said more than 100 people had died in the floods in Assam, with which West Bengal shares a "special spiritual connection".

"The situation in neighbouring Assam is terrifying. We have a special spiritual connection with Assam. Several states such as Manipur and Chhattisgarh have announced assistance to Assam. We will also provide financial assistance of Rs 10 crore from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to Assam," Adhikari told the Assembly on Wednesday.

Assam flood situation remains serious, more rain in forecast

The flood situation in Assam remained serious on Wednesday, with more than 1.12 lakh people affected across four districts amid the forecast of more rain in several areas already reeling under the deluge, officials said.

Several rivers are flowing above their danger levels, posing a threat of flooding in new areas, an Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) official said.

The IMD's Guwahati centre has forecast thunderstorms, accompanied by lightning, and moderate to heavy rain in parts of Charaideo, Dibrugarh, Jorhat, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts, she said.

The Dhansiri river at Numaligarh in Golaghat district continues to flow in a "severe flood situation", she said, advising people to stay away from the river amid a continuous rise in its water level.

No fresh death reported

According to the ASDMA's daily flood bulletin, no fresh death was reported and the toll in this year's floods remained at 101.

More than 1,12,700 people are currently affected by the floods in Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon and Sivasagar districts, the bulletin said.

Golaghat is the worst-hit district, with over 65,000 people affected, followed by Sivasagar with nearly 20,000 and Nagaon with more than 16,000 people reeling under floodwaters.

The Dhansiri at Numaligarh and the Kushiyara at Sribhumi are flowing above the danger levels, the ASDMA official said.

The administration is operating 92 relief camps and relief distribution centres across five districts, providing assistance to 30,205 affected people, the authority said.

During the last 24 hours, the ASDMA distributed 420.32 quintals of rice, 74.72 quintals of dal, 22.42 quintals of salt and 2,058.95 litres of mustard oil among flood-affected people.

At least 441 villages remain inundated, and 10,879.03 hectares of cropland have been damaged across the state, the authority said.

Floodwaters have also damaged embankments, roads, bridges and other infrastructure in several districts.

The flooding has affected 31,650 domestic animals and poultry across the state, according to the ASDMA.