Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda touched down in Assam on August 4 for a three-day tour of flood-ravaged districts. The death toll from the July 19 deluge has climbed to 89. More than 1.22 lakh people remain affected across six districts, with Sivasagar and Charaideo bearing the brunt of the destruction. Nadda met with displaced families in the Nepali Khuti and Bihubor areas on August 5. He promised swift federal action.
"On behalf of the Government of India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I assure Himanta Biswa Sarma and all of you that there will be no shortage of relief assistance," Nadda said. Central teams are currently on the ground to evaluate infrastructure loss.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma spent the last two days navigating the flooded region. In a rare moment of political unity, Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi praised the Chief Minister for wading barefoot through waist-deep waters in Nazira. Residents recounted harrowing escapes, including one family that spent eight hours atop a stationary road roller as floodwaters surged. Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma sent Rs 1 crore to support the relief effort.
Sarma confirmed that government teams will begin assessing damaged homes on August 9 to fast-track compensation. The state has already paid Rs 9 lakh in total ex gratia support to the families of each deceased victim. Yet, a debate over the disaster's cause remains heated. While officials initially blamed heavy rain, experts and opposition leaders point to decades of illegal coal and stone mining in Nagaland as the primary driver of the floods. They argue that deforestation and sediment buildup in the Dikhow River basin have choked drainage, turning moderate rainfall into catastrophic surges. Sarma stated he cannot unilaterally stop mining in Nagaland but plans to raise the issue with the Centre.
Nadda will conclude his visit on August 6 after assessing flash flood damage in Yazali, Arunachal Pradesh, and reviewing health services. The state government remains focused on stabilizing the situation in Sivasagar, where thousands continue to live in temporary relief camps.
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