GUWAHATI, Sept 23 � The State government has decided to raise two more companies of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to augment the trained manpower availability for dealing with the current flood situation in the lower Assam districts of Kamrup Metro, Kamrup Rural, Goalpara and Dhubri.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said in an official statement that it has already initiated the process of procurement of 100 more inflatable rubber boats to be made available to SDRF and HF and VHF systems to strengthen the communication network.
It added that to face the emergent situation more effectively, it was decided to approach National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) for additional teams of NDRF and NDMA is sending four NDRF teams to the State, which are likely to arrive any time today.
�Two teams of SDRF were sent to Goalpara from Barpeta and Nalbari to reinforce the manpower and boats available in the district and this was further supplemented by two NDRF teams from Guwahati and Sonitpur. The NDRF and SDRF teams have been able to reach out to the villagers in need of rescue operation and carry them to safer locations,� it said.
The statement added that helicopter was also requisitioned from the Air Force as a stand-by measure and was used to survey the isolated and marooned areas.
�People from those areas have been shifted to 78 relief camps. A team of engineers was also sent to restore the bridge on the National Highway at Krishnai. Equally intensive efforts were made to help the flood-affected people in Boko revenue circle and a few other areas like Chhaygaon and Goroimari. Ten teams of NDRF, SDRF and Army worked round-the-clock to evacuate people to safer locations and relief camps,� it said.
The disaster response team of Kamrup (Metro) deployed SDRF and NDRF to help the people in the flood-affected areas and also requisitioned the Army�s assistance to clear the roads and areas affected by landslide.
�PWD personnel also mounted a drive to keep clear the roads of the debris of the landslides. Removal of encroachment on and around water channels and their widening have improved the drainage system of Guwahati, but to expedite the process, arrangements for pumping out the water have also been made. The situation in Mankachar area of Dhubri district was brought immediately under control,� it added.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi reviewed the flood situation and ongoing rescue and relief efforts yesterday and �it was decided to raise two more companies of SDRF to augment the trained manpower availability.�
