Sonowal
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in a flood review meeting with the officials of various departments at Assam Administrative Staff College.

Nearly 2 lakh people in 229 villages of Assam’s 9 districts have been affected by the first wave of floods this year.

A total of 29 relief camps and 6 relief distribution centres have been set up in the state.

As per the Assam government’s data, the floods in the state have affected 1,007 hectares of farming lands.

Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday reviewed flood situation in the state at a meeting with the officials of Assam State Disaster Management Authority and top officials of various other departments at Assam Administrative Staff College.

The chief minister directed the officials for ensuring all COVID19 protocols like social distancing, hand washing and wearing of masks at the flood relief camps so that community spread of COVID19 cases can be contained during the flood season.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) have been circulated by ASDMA for the relief camps in view of COVID-19.

Sonowal instructed the deputy commissioners of all districts to keep soap and water for hand washing, masks for inmates while properly sanitizing the flood relief camps.

The chief minister directed the district administrations to ensure that no irregularities take place while distributing relief materials.

He also issued directions for releasing of ex-gratia within 48 hours by district administration for those losing life in floods.

Sonowal instructed the DCs to regularly review the relief distribution system so that accountability can be fixed if any irregularity takes place.

He stressed on the need to keep an information board in all relief camps showing details of how much relief materials have been received by every individual inmate.

The chief minister directed the power department to cut off power in all those transformers submerged in floods so that no case of electrocution takes place during the floods.

On being apprised about the LEWS advanced lightning warning system, Sonowal instructed the department to use the system to reduce number of casualties in the state because of lightning.

The LEWS advanced lightning warning system can give a warning of impending lightning before 45 minutes.

The chief minister directed the PWD to take steps for repairing 157 roads damaged by floods in 8 districts.

He instructed the water resources department to keep a stock of materials such as RCC Porcupine, bamboo and sand bags in all districts for taking immediate measures to safeguard the areas affected by erosion.

He also asked the officials of water resources department to go to the public and make them aware about delay in construction of embankments due to lockdown and heavy rainfall in the month of May.