The Big Picture - Assam Floods: Tackling the Deluge

The flood situation in Assam continues to threaten life and property with around 40 lakh people estimated to be affected by floods in 27 of the state’s 33 districts. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, the inundation has so far claimed the lives of over 80 people. The state’s wildlife sanctuaries, including the Kaziranga National Park have also been severely hit where over 75 animals have died, while over 120 others have been rescued. Over 3,000 villages are currently inundated and 1.3 lakh hectares worth of crops are estimated to have been damaged. The flood situation is not limited to Assam alone. Several other parts of the country have witnessed flooding as well. What’s worse is it’s not a one-off phenomenon, but an annual affair. In this edition of The Big Picture we will analyse the Assam Floods. Guests - 1- R. R. Rashmi, Programme Director, Earth Science & Climate Change, TERI 2- Prof. C.K. Varshney, Environmentalist & Former Dean, School of Environment Sciences, JNU 3- K. T. Ravindran, Urban Planner Anchor - Frank Rausan Pereira Producer - Sagheer Ahmad