Union Jal Shakti minister reviews Assam flood situation, assures all help

Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Tuesday reviewed the flood situation in Assam with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and assured all support to the state by the Centre to deal with the situation.

The Centre has released RS 251.55 crore to the State Disaster Response Fund for management of disaster, he said.

The flood situation in Assam turned critical on Tuesday with all 33 districts of the state coming under the grip of the deluge, which has so far claimed 17 lives and affected over 45 lakh people, officials said.

After the meeting with Sonowal and government officials concerned, Shekhawat told reporters that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with the chief minister on Monday to review the flood condition in the state and he was sent to take stock of the situation.

The central and state governments will work together to tide over the situation, he said after an aerial survey of Majuli Island and Dibrugarh in the morning.

After the state sends it loss assessment report, the Centre will send a verification team for further release of funds, Shekhawat said.

Appreciating the efforts of the state government in flood mitigating, Shekhawat told reporters, "The Centre is firmly behind the state government in tackling the flood and erosion in the state."