Assam floods : Over 500 families live on railway tracks as flood affects over 8 lakh

Over 500 families live on railway tracks as flood affects over 8 lakh

As Assam struggles to cope with the floods, more than 500 families from two villages in the Jamunamukh area are living on the railways, a major source of flood relief.

The people of Changjurai and Patia Pathar villages are suffering from the loss of everything they had in the floods. The villagers, who have taken refuge under temporary pieces made of tarpaulin sheets, say they have not received any assistance from the state government and the district administration for the past five days.

Monwara Begum, 43, has been living with her family in a temporary shred since their house in the village of Patia pathar collapsed in the floods. Four more families have joined them to escape the floods. They all live in the inhumane conditions under one sheet, almost without food.

"For three days we were under the open sky and then we bought this canvas with some money. We are five families living under the same sheet, there is no privicy," said Monwara Begum.

Beauty Portolo's family also lost their home in the village of Changjurai and are living on a tarpaulin sheet. "The paddy crops that were ready for our harvest have been destroyed in the floods. The situation is uncertain as it is very difficult to survive like this. 

"The situation here is very challenging, there is no safe source of drinking water, and we only eat once a day. For the last four days we have only got flat rice," said Sunanda Doloi, a relative of Ms. Bordoloi's.

Four days later we got help from the government yesterday. They gave us some rice, pulses, and oil but some did not even get it," said Nasibur Rehman, another flood victim from Patia Pathar.

The flood situation in Assam is dire and more than 8 lakh people in 2,585 villages in 29 districts have been affected by the natural disaster. At least 14 people have been killed in floods and landslides caused by pre-monsoon rains.

86,772 people have taken refuge in 343 relief camps and 411 relief distribution centers are functioning. The army, paramilitary forces, and national and state disaster relief forces have evacuated 21,884 people by boat and helicopter from various flood-affected areas.