Assam toll rises to 21, Rajnath Singh to survey

Union home minister Rajnath Singh will visit Assam on Saturday to assess the flood situation that has affected a population of over 18 lakh in the state. The death toll in the current flood has reached 21 on Friday.

The strong river current has breached the embankment of Manas National Park and the water has started inundating the wildlife sanctuary.

More than 1.3 lakh people have taken shelter in relief camps set up by the state administration in 19 flood-hit districts and the army, the national and state disaster response force personnel are going all out to provide relief.

The Brahmaputra and its tributaries are in spate and have flooded several districts, including the Kaziranga National Park.

Mr Singh, who spoke to Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal to take stock of the situation, will make an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas in Nagaon and Morigaon districts besides Kaziranga National Park. He will also visit some relief camps.

The state government has maintained that flood relief and rescue measures will be the top priority for them, and that disaster response forces are doing everything that they can do to salvage the situation.

Meanwhile, the chief minister of Assam also had an aerial survey of the flood-hit districts on Thursday and directed the authorities to extend all necessary support to the flood victims.