The state of Assam has been experiencing devastating floods since the month of May and the situation is deteriorating with each passing day. NDTV reports that 3,371 villages are under floodwaters, 1.28 lakh hectares of standing crops have been destroyed and the India Meteorological Department’s rain forecast shows no respite.
Apart from the coronavirus and floods, the intense rainfall is also causing landslides in the area and the visuals are heart-rending.
Her house stands over water but she doesn’t have water to drink. The cursed reality of #Assam #AssamFloods #COVID pic.twitter.com/AvLciH2bt5
— Angkita Dutta (@angkitadutta) July 12, 2020
Not only COVID19, devastating flood also become cause of havoc in Assam. It was yesterday's video from Gahinpara area of Bajali, Barpeta.#AssamFloods @PMOIndia #disastermanagement @CMOfficeAssam pic.twitter.com/ibivshAyRH
— Anirban Pathak (@anirbanpathak90) July 13, 2020
Another flood is upon us. But this time, so is a pandemic. To fight it, community health workers are wading from door to door, balancing themselves on rickety bridges, or precarious make-shift rafts across Assam’s inundated villages and towns.
Link: https://t.co/FC6VnD0WE7 pic.twitter.com/dMgJzN2LoY
— Tora Agarwala (@toramatix) July 12, 2020
Assam floods during the Pandemic. A double whammy. God have mercy. Please pray for the people of Assam🙏🙏🙏#AssamFloods pic.twitter.com/iNklzdZ50u
— Wg Cdr Sherokh Rashid Hazarika (Veteran) (@Sherhaz1) July 16, 2020
Majuli, is the island district that gains a lot of attention when it's about culture, heritage and pride. When it is about floods, silence is what we receive.#AssamFloods #majuli @sarbanandsonwal @himantabiswa pic.twitter.com/gl5RhG74Kk
— Manash Lekharu (@lekharu_manash) July 12, 2020
66 people have died due to floods and 26 due to landslides, taking the toll to 92. @kaziranga_ National Park, the world's largest habitat for one-horned Rhinos is badly affected.#AssamFloods #NorthEastMatters pic.twitter.com/X4vKTJPCTe
— Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza) July 16, 2020
Massive loss of life, infrastructure and wildlife across 30 districts.
The state disaster management body’s report dated July 16 places the number of deaths to 66 and over 48 lakh affected (some rendered homeless). The worst-hit districts are Hojai, Dhemaji, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Sonitpur, Udalguri, Darrang, Baksa, Nalbari, Barpeta, Chirang, Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, Dhubri, Goalpara, Kamrup, Nagaon, Golaghat, Jorhat, Majuli, Sivasagar, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia and Karbi Anglong.
According to India Today, 191 embankments, 133 bridges, and 1414 roads have been damaged with waters of the Brahmaputra river (and its tributaries) still above the danger level at Neamatighat in Jorhat district, Tezpur in Sonitpur district, Guwahati, Goalpara, and Dhubri.
66 people dead and 48,07,111 affected across 30 districts due to floods in the state, as of 15th July: Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) pic.twitter.com/AleZk2axIT
— ANI (@ANI) July 16, 2020
According to BBC, Kaziranga National Park which is home to elephants, tigers, Indian hog deer, wild buffaloes as well as two-thirds of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros population has been submerged.
A female rhino calf was separated from her mother due to high flood in the Agartoli range yesterday. As we could not locate the mother, team CWRC along with @kaziranga_ staffs rescued it and currently under care at our rescue centre-CWRC. @ParimalSuklaba1 @wti_org_India pic.twitter.com/LLPHrDPQ8Z
— Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve (@kaziranga_) July 15, 2020
Despite rescue efforts, 66 animals have died this monsoon season. According to Hindustan Times, 2 rhinos, 5 wild boars, 1 swamp deer, 14 hog deer, and 1 porcupine died due to drowning and another 12 hog deer got hit by vehicles as they were crossing a national highway to go to Karbi Anglong hills.
Assam: Due to floods, 80% of Kaziranga National Park is submerged in water. P Sivakumar, Director, Kaziranga National Park says, "So far, 66 animals have died and 170 animals were rescued." pic.twitter.com/sWhojRBUmG
— ANI (@ANI) July 15, 2020
Assam Floods:95 per cent of anti-poaching camps are inundated at the #Kaziranga National Park.
47 animals died so far due to flood related incidents and 70 have been rescued by the park authorities.
Report:Manas @airnews_ghy pic.twitter.com/f8FBEC24KQ— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) July 13, 2020
Rescue and evacuation are underway.
The Times of India reports that 36,000 people across 19 districts have been shifted to 249 relief camps in the state. 11 search and rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) as well as local authorities are using boats to rescue stranded residents.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, teams are also wearing safety gear and taking temperatures of people.
#AssamFloods | NDRF team carried out flood rescue operations at night in village Bohrighat, Chenga Circle, Barpeta, Assam & evacuated 103 marooned villagers: NDRF
(Photo: NDRF) pic.twitter.com/PUoG6mfXm9
— NDTV (@ndtv) July 15, 2020
Here’s how all of us can contribute and help flood victims (both humans and wildlife):
- NGO Earthful Foundation is distributing essentials and installing solar street lights in villages under “Project Xokaah”.
- ActionAid India is distributing dry rations and hygiene kits in relief camps.
- The Voice of Northeast India and youth group People for People have teamed up with a band named Bottle Rockets to organize a fundraising e-concert on July 18. They are accepting donations on Milaap.
- NGO North-East Affected Area Development Society (NEADS) is raising funds with Humanitarian Aid International and Start Network.
- Goonj is accepting contributions in the form of materials, time, and space.
- Rapid Response is seeking donations to distribute relief materials.
- The Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) is accepting donations to protect endangered animals and their wild habitats.
Let’s come together and help the people of Assam in whatever way we can. Every bit counts!