Centre dispatches medical, NDRF teams to Assam

Home Secretary R K Singh said teams of National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) along with experts in drinking water and sanitation issues have been rushed to the affected areas on the same aircraft.

Already, the Centre has sent reinforcements of paramilitary forces including two companies of Rapid Action Force (RAF) to help the state police bring back normalcy.

Cabinet Secretary Ajit Seth reviewed the relief and medical arrangements for the victims of the worst communal violence witnessed in recent times in lower Assam districts during a video conference with Assam Chief Secretary Naba Kumar Das.

"Two teams comprising physician, gynaecologist, paediatrician, public health specialists, resident doctors and nurses have been airlifted from Delhi at 5.15 PM today," an official spokesperson said.

The doctors and nurses will support the state government's efforts to provide relief and immediate medical help to the people in the relief camps.

Seth also reviewed arrangements to ensure that food and other supplies were available in adequate measures.

Nearly two lakh people have taken shelter in 250 relief camps in the five riot-hit districts of Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Chirang, Baksa and Dhubri.

The region witnessed communal riots between the immigrant minorities and the ethnic tribal populations.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is scheduled to visit Assam tomorrow.