On June 14, 2023, the Global Programme activated the Task Force in Lakhimpur and Dhemaji districts of Assam to ensure that people are well prepared to face any eventuality of disaster.

Heavy rains have caused severe flooding and brought normal life to a standstill in various parts of Assam, besides claiming the lives of seven people, as confirmed by the daily flood report released by the Flood Reporting and Information Management System (FRIMS), Assam, on Wednesday (June 29).

According to the report, the districts of Bajali, Barpeta, Biswanath, Darrang, Dhemaji, Goalpara, Jorhat, Kamrup, Lakhimpur, Nalbari, Sonitpur, and Tamulpur have been hit by floods. While 20 revenue circles have been affected and 395 villages have been hit by the flood, according to the FRIMS report.

For two years now, the Global Programme in Assam has been empowering the local community to build resilience to disasters. A total of 837 Task Force members have been trained over the last 2 years by NDRF and SDRF, and now they are demonstrating the skills and knowledge they have acquired during the trainings given by NDRF and SDRF.

One of the Task Force members mentioned that I am very fortunate to be part of the Task Force and support the team in disseminating information about safety measures before and during floods. He added, saying that while helping others enhances my skills and knowledge, At present, the task force members are very active and monitoring the flood situation in their respective villages with the support of the Global Programme team.

While the number of human lives lost stands at seven till today,” the report said, adding that a total of five medical teams have been deployed in five districts. The number of embankments breached is 2, each in Biswanath and Sonitpur districts. Additionally, the reports also mentioned the number of damaged roads in the state: 2 in Baksa and 22 in Barpeta, respectively. Reportedly, more than 82,000 people are affected in these districts, even as the flood situation in other parts of the State has marginally improved.

While the districts of Lakhimpur and Dhemaji experienced the first wave of floods with less impact, the district of Morigaon has remained unaffected. However, the members of the Task Force group are keeping a close watch on the floods in Assam.

As a proactive measure, Global programme partner Guwahati Gana Seva Society, IAG, in collaboration with the veterinary department, organised a cattle vaccination camp on June 26, 2023, in three villages (Dungarpar, Lengeribori, and Borthal Kachari Gaon, also known as Boramari Kacharigaon) under Laharighat block in Morigaon district, wherein 302 cattle were vaccinated. This initiative will minimise the sickness and death of livestock during and after floods. Every year after the flood, many cattle die due to a lack of preparedness; hence, this initiative will definitely minimise the death of the cattle during and after the flood.