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16 June 2003 by Pooja Saxena in Delhi More than 400,000 people have been left homeless by flash floods caused by heavy monsoon rains in India’s northeastern state of Assam. Nearly 450 villages have been hit in eight districts. The worst affected districts are Hailakandi and Karimganj in the south, Nalbari in the west and Dhemaji in the east of the state. Thousands of people in Hailakandi and Karimganj have taken shelter on embankments in makeshift tents and in government buildings and schools. India’s Central Water Commission said on Sunday that the Brahmaputra River, which flows through the state, is flowing above danger mark at various places along its course. Local government officials further added that "a mud embankment on the outskirts of capital Guwahati is in a precarious condition with the Brahmaputra threatening to breach the dyke.” If the dyke is breached, then Assam’s international airport at Guwahati would be under water. The floods have left thousands of flood-hit villagers facing an acute shortage in drinking water shortage after water sources were flooded in Hailakandi, Karimganj, Nalbari and Dhemaji. Local authorities have been providing water purification tablets in some of the villages in order to prevent the outbreak of water-borne diseases. The Indian Red Cross at Dhemaji has deployed 40 volunteers trained in first aid and disaster response to help the injured and to relocate those affected by the floods to safer places. With railway lines submerged in some places, transport links to the district have been disrupted forcing people to use impromptu boats and rafts made of banana leaves and bamboo to get around. Red Cross volunteers are also using such rafts to distribute relief supplies to those who have been affected, including food provided by the government. The Indian Red Cross has also set up two camps where than 500 people have now been housed. As well as shelter, the Red Cross is providing hot meals and safe drinking water. A raised platform constructed by the Indian Red Cross in the western district of Nalbari following floods last year, is also providing shelter for about 1,000 people and their cattle. Related links: India: appeals, updates and reports Indian Red Cross Responding to floods Make a donation |
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