Assam government toconduct a survey of landslide prone areas with the help of Geological Survey ofIndia : CM Sarbananda Sonowal

Guwahati, June 5 : Closeon the heels of the landslide induced death in Barak Valley region on Tuesdaylast and to bring in mechanism to avert such accidents from occurring in thefuture, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Thursday directed the DeputyCommissioners (DCs) of Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts to constitutelandslide monitoring and response team at the revenue circle level.

The Assam Chief Minister said that, for mapping the landslide prone spots of the state, the Geological Survey of India will be requested to carry out a survey in the state.

Sonowal directed the DC of each district of Barak Valley to evacuate people from the landslide prone areas and place them at a safer place.

21 people including few minors were killed and few others injured in several landslide incidents triggered by incessant rains in the three districts.

Chairing a meeting to review the flood and land slide situation in Barak Valley at Silchar on Thursday, Sonowal asked the deputy commissioners to press their men and materials to help flood and erosion affected people.

Administration should provide good quality relief items to the affected people. The state has faced with two pronged problems namely COVID 19 pandemic and flood, Sonowal said. He directed the DCs to make available medical facilities, drinking water etc in the relief camps.

Sonowal asked the DCs to adequately follow social distancing protocols while taking steps to keep the flood affected people in the relief camps.

He also emphasised on the importance for the people to use masks and maintain cleanliness.

In the meeting the Principal of Silchar Medical College informed the Assam Chief Minister that facilities have been made to conduct 1000 COVID-19 tests on a daily basis.

Sonowal stressed on the need of lifting the morale of the health workers working as Covid warriors.

He also asked the DCs to provide fodder for the flood affected cattle.

Assam Chief Minister Sonowal also gave financial assistance to the next of the kin of those persons killed in the land slide.

Assam Forest Minister ParimalSuklabaidya, MP Rajdeep Roy, MLAs, DCs from three districts, SPs and other senior officers were present during Chief Ministers visit to Silchar.

(By Hemanta Kumar Nath, Guwahati)