Assam lives on mobile kitchens and boat ambulances, as floods fail to recede even after a month

• The floodwater is going down but heavy rains are still expected in western Assam until Wednesday.
  
• As of now, the floods killed a total of 68 people and over 200 animals. Overall, it affected 5.25 million in 30 of Assam’s 33 districts.
  
• Medical help is available to people via boat clinics only.
  

The Assam floods are showing few signs of receding, though it has been a month since they started. Heavy rains are stalling the possibility of the end of the extended misery caused by the monsoon floods.

"The floodwater level is showing a falling trend, and we have recorded that the water level had fallen by 162 cm till Monday morning," an official told IANS. However, there’s a chance of heavy rainfall (100mm/ 24 hour) in western Assam until Wednesday, said the Weather Channel.

Officials reported two more deaths in Morigaon and Golaghat districts since Monday. As of now, the death toll is at 68 people and over 200 animals. Overall, it affected 5.25 million in 30 of Assam’s 33 districts.

Heavy rainfall and floods brought life in Assam to a standstill, displacing thousands of people from their homes. People are unable to commute to get medical aid, food, or water.

The only medical help available to people is through boat clinics. These mobile clinics make monthly tours, in more than 29 riverine islands in Morigaon district to help 900 residents. But, during the floods, they have become primary providers of medical aid as well as food.



An MLA also introduced a mobile kitchen on July 13 in Khumtai, Golaghat district. It will deliver food via a boat, and can also double as an emergency vehicle.

According to official records, floods wrecked over 114,179 hectares of agricultural land, including standing crops. As many as 97,000 people are still living at 757 relief camps.

“Heavy rainfall and floods have virtually become a regular annual feature in Assam, but, this year, we are faced with early rains and early flood,” Dr. Jitendra Singh said, the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER).