Veroli Zhimo
The floods in Assam, on last count, have affected at least 22.21 lakh people across 28 districts, according to a bulletin issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). The death toll was estimated at 127 as on Sunday.
The adverse impacts of climate change-induced extreme weather was not limited to Assam alone as Meghalaya also witnessed several landslides which disrupted road communication from the Jaintia hills to three neighbouring states of Assam, Tripura and Mizoram. Flood and landslides have so far claimed lives of 27 people in Meghalaya this year.
Rail connectivity between Guwahati and South Assam districts as well as neighbouring states of Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur have mostly suspended since May 16 when flash floods and landslides following heavy rains damaged railway tracks at several locations under Lumding-Badarpur section in Assam.
Similarly in Arunachal Pradesh, as per data from the Disaster Management Department last week, landslides and floods have damaged 524 dwellings across 87 hamlets since April. An estimated 11,000 citizens have been affected during this period.
Manipur also witnessed several flash floods in Jiribam and Pherzawl districts and several villages were submerged due to incessant rain and subsequent rise of the water level of Barak River in the past week.
Even in Nagaland, the Nagaland State Disaster Management of Authority (NSDMA) on June 24 said incessant rains and landslides in the past few days caused damages to roads, bridges, residences and other properties in the State.
In an update, the NSDMA, however, said, major relief intervention remains to be deployed in respect of destruction to public infrastructure and public property, damage to private residences, and hanging bridges which serve as a lifeline to many villages. Unless there is immediate intervention, further damages are likely to worsen the existing situation, especially in respect of community assets, the NSDMA cautioned.
In all these north eastern states, extreme rainfall can be attributed to warming temperatures exacerbated by deforestation, unregulated or poorly regulated construction, hill-cutting and riverbed mining, all of which are prevalent in the states owing to the robust push for ‘development’ activities.
Accordingly, it becomes imperative that both central and state governments factor in climate-change impacts in their development and economic choices. Governments must put in the legwork to reduce and regulate emissions from human activities without adversely impacting livelihoods, increase programmes to help people adapt to climate impacts, and improve resilience. Simultaneously, robust disaster management and recovery plans have to be implemented along with improved flow of disaster-related relief.
Improving governance structures is crucial towards minimising and mitigating climate impacts, and without proper planning, sustained economic and non-economic losses will continue to mount, undermining development gains and the well-being of citizens.
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