All you need to know about the drowning Gateway of North-east India.
Assam, the Gateway of North-east India, the land of Red river and of the magnificent Blue hills.
The land of largest tea garden and of the fleecy silk ‘Eri’ and ‘Muga’.
The land with men in ‘Suria‘ or ‘Dhoti‘ and women in ‘Mekhela Chador’ or ‘Riha Mekhela’.
The land holding the legacy of Kamarupa and of the Ahoms, whom Assam derives its name from and the land that sees the ‘Bleeding Goddess’ as divine.
The land of “Dig-Boi” producing onshore natural gas and land of national parks dwelling ‘One-horned Rhino‘ along with numerous specie being worshiped the most
Recently, this pleasing land of the undemanding people has seen nature’s wrath but hope and succour of the people is still intact and unaffected. Although, it is not the first time that the State has witnessed something as devastating as this, it has only become more immune and stronger with each calamity’s stroke without any talking about their grievances.
“We have grown up watching the floods. My Grandmother recollects the time when they had lived on streets and the conditions have been this worse since then. It has become a routine for us; like other seasons- summer, winter and rainy, the floods have become a season too.”
– A resident of Assam.
What is happening in Assam?
Overflowing of the rivers Brahmaputra, Barak and Jia Bhoreli has left the state into a catastrophe. Brahmaputra floods keep striking the state every now and then, but the sudden rise in the rivers since June 2019 has caused severe damage to the state. Assam receives excessive rainfall as it falls under the meteorological zone causing an increase in the water levels of the Brahmaputra and its tributaries that flows through the state.
Till 18th July, death toll touched 27 and increased, 4000 villages in 28 districts out of 33 of the state have been affected. 1000 houses damaged and over 16 lakh animals included livestock have been affected.
Assam State Disaster Management Authority. https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/monsoon-misery-assam-annual-tryst-with-floods-1571473-2019-07-20
The Brahmaputra floods are not a new concept. It is a catastrophic flood event occurred across the Brahmaputra and its tributaries subsequently since 2012.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmaputra_floods
The floods have severely damaged the embankments, roads, bridges, culverts and many other infrastructures of Assam and Barpeta district is the most devastated out of all others, followed by Nagaon, Goalpara, Morigaon and Hailakandi. The rising water level has affected Nematighat, Tezpur, Guwhati, Dhubri, Goalpara. Other areas affected include Dibrugarh, Kamrup, Cachar, Lakhimpur, Golaghat, Sonitpur, and Karimganj. The floods have affected 95% of Kaziranga National Park has with the increase in the toll of wild animals and some submerging in water, including the affects on anti-poaching camps of the national park. The Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district was also flooded. Floods in Assam has disastrously hit the agricultural lands too.
Why is Assam prone to floods?
Any area affected by some crisis has contribution of both natural and man-made factors. Assam already falls under the meteorological zone that receives excessive rainfall during monsoon. The region has occasionally witnessed even 500 mm of rainfall in a day.
The region receives rainfall ranging from 248 cm to 635 cm, rainfall of more than 40 mm in an hour is frequent and around 70 mm per hour is also not uncommon.
Brahmaputra Board, Ministry of Jal Shakti.
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/monsoon-misery-assam-annual-tryst-with-floods-1571473-2019-07-20
The rapidly overflowing rivers through the narrow valley where the Brahmaputra flows from, spread reaching the narrow strips which later affects the forest covers and farming areas in the low-lying areas around. Assam also possesses steep slopes that results into rivers cascading towards the plains. As the North-east region of India lies in a seismic zone, earthquakes and landslides are frequent which ends up in sedimentation that raises river beds. Other major factor is encroachment- the destruction of natural drainage like wetlands and water bodies has provoked the problem.
What can be or is being done for Assam floods?
Measures have been taken by the locals and the State Government through rescue operations and rehabilitation. People have been evacuated and accommodated to relief camps across the state. Major role being played by the National Disaster Response force and Khalsa Aid that has been distributing emergency supplies to flood-affected people in Assam and other flood affected areas earlier. Similarly, the State health department along with animal husbandry and veterinary are also addressing medical issues due to the floods.
How can you contribute?
Natural calamity is a phenomenon that we cannot control or stop. It will happen and it will stop too, but the amount of destruction it causes is transcendent. All we can do is take measures or precautions to be prepared or at least find ways to recover for the aftermath. As humans, we need to help other humans.
Assam has been suffering for a long time, the State has been recovering on its own and the Centre has taken the matter into consideration, although none have been able to successfully find a solution for the inevitable floods. As fellow countrymen and humans, it is our responsibility to provide aid to the state in all possible ways. An official account and website for relief funds have been spread among others. Below mentioned are the details for the same along with the official website of the Chief Minister of Assam attached, where you can donate.
Account-Holder’s Name: Chief Minister’s Relief Fund Assam
https://cm.assam.gov.in/relieffund.php
Bank: State Bank of India (SBI)
Account Number: 35969660230 (SBI), Secretariat Branch
IFSC: SBIN0010755
PAN: AAATC4667K
Some other ways to help the flood affected people
Paytm app- the mobile payment app can be used for making online monetary contribution to Assam Flood Relief. You can also contribute items like Rice, Dal, Biscuits, Sanitary napkins, clothes and other essentials to the authorities in Assam through mentioned details and link ahead.
Jhalukbari
Name: Debashish Rajkhowa
Address: H-10, Pragjyotish Nagar
Contact Number: 8876993579
Dharapur
Name: Robin Diksha Dhar
Address: Agrim Vista
Contact Number: 7002602010
Narangi Tinali
Name: Robin Ajay
Address: Indira Gandhi Computer Shakshrta Mission, Opposite of UCO Bank
Contact Number: 9085140567
More details in here : https://www.kaziranga-national-park.com/blog/assam-flood-information/
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