Rijiju to lead central team to flood-hit northeast (Lead)

New Delhi July 12 (IANS) Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju will lead a high-level central team to supervise rescue and relief in flood-hit northeastern states where lakhs have been affected by heavy rains and floods.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked Rijiju to personally supervise the relief operations and facilitate all possible help to the affected states.

The team comprises members from the National Disaster Management Authority the NITI Aayog and National Disaster Response Force. It will visit Arunachal Pradesh Assam and Manipur from Thursday to Sunday.

"All defence and paramilitary forces along with state agencies are involved in rescue and relief operations in these states. If such situation arises additional central forces can be deputed there from other parts of the country " a Home Ministry statement said.

A PMO release said Modi spoke to Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minsiter Pema Khandu and other officials both in Delhi and the states on the flood situation.

He said the entire nation stands with the people of Northeast and the central government would provide all possible help to normalise the situation.

Heavy rains in the past one week have wreaked havoc in Assam Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Floods have claimed several lives in Assam where over 12 lakh persons in over 2 000 villages in 20 districts have been affected. The total number of deaths in this year s flood-related incidents have climbed to 33.

The deaths in devastating landslides triggered by heavy rains in Arunachal Pradesh have risen to seven.

--IANS
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