2016 Assam floods

The state of Assam within India

The 2016 Assam floods were caused by large rains over the Indian state of Assam in July 2016. The flooding has affected 1.8 million people, and flooded the Kaziranga National Park.[1] As of 1 August 2016, 28 people had been killed as a result of the flooding starting 17 July, according to a report by the State Disaster Management Authority.[2]

Floods

The north-eastern states of India saw heavy rainfalls in July 2016. The state of Assam faced around 60% more rains than it received in July 2015.[3] The rainfall resulted in flooding of various rivers and on 5 July the Brahmaputra River had crossed its danger mark level in the seven districts of Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Nagaon, Jorhat, Golaghat, Morigaon and Biswanath.[4]

Effects

Human life

The floods have affected more than 1.6 million human lives, and people choose to abandon their households and livestock, and escape with help of homemade rafts. Mobile phone networks, along with power transmission, have been hampered in many regions of the state.[1] Around 200,000 hectares (490,000 acres) of farming land was affected by the floods.[2] The Assam Branch Indian Tea Association (ABITA) has estimated a 21-30% crop loss of Assam tea. The state of Assam had produced 631 million kg of tea in 2015; which contributed 52% of country's total production.[3]

Wild life

The Kaziranga National Park in proximity with the Brahmaputra River.

The floods have affected the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary[4] and the Kaziranga National Park, a World Heritage Site. As of 2 August 2016, around 300 wild animals have been reported to have drowned, while around 80 percent of the Kaziranga National Park was under water. This includes 21 great one-horned rhinoceroses (Rhinoceros unicornis) and about 220 Indian hog deer (Hyelaphus porcinus).[5][6] The park officially reported deaths of "11 wild boar, nine swamp deer, six sambar, three buffalo, two hog badger, one porcupine and one python" in the time span of 25 July to 31 July.[6]

Officers and local people rescued 100 wild animals, including 9 rhinoceroses.[7] These were taken for treatment at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) located within Kaziranga.[6]

Rescue work

About 300 makeshift camps were erected to rehabilitate people displaced by the flooding.[1] Various schools were used as relief camps. National Disaster Response Force took up the relief works.[2] An NGO named "Save the Children" worked for the rehabilitation of children and their families in the three districts of Dhemaji, Lakhimpur and Majuli.[8] Seven public-sector oil companies Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation, Oil India Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Gas Authority of India Limited, and Numaligarh Refinery Limited donated a total of ₹15 crore (US$2.2 million) towards Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.[9]

The British daily The Guardian in their report on 27 July criticized that the disaster has received low coverage in national news and television channels of India.[1] Central Government also gave some fund for the rescue. Daily soaps like Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah Team also donated money in CM's emergency fund.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Doshi, Vidhi (27 July 2016). "Flooding in India affects 1.6m people and submerges national park". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Debasree Purkayastha (1 August 2016). "28 dead in Assam floods in two weeks". The Hindu. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  3. 1 2 Supratim Dey (2 August 2016). "Bad weather makes Assam tea output to nosedive in July, industry worried". Business Standard. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  4. 1 2 "Assam floods: 90,000 affected, Brahmaputra above danger mark". Indian Express. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  5. ↑ PTI (2 August 2016). "Over 300 animals killed in Assam floods in Kaziranga". The Times of India. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Samudra Gupta Kashyap (2 August 2016). "Assam floods: 218 animals including 17 rhinos, 166 hog deer dead in Kaziranga". Indian Express. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  7. ↑ "Assam Flood: 200 Animals Drown To Death In Kaziranga National Park". The Huffington Post. Assam. 1 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  8. ↑ "'Save the children' NGO to help children in flood-hit Assam". Indian Express. 2 August 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2016.
  9. ↑ PTI (3 August 2016). "Oil firms donate Rs 15 crore". The Hindu. Guwahati. Retrieved 3 August 2016.
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