GUWAHATI, July 22 ? The GOC 4 Corps, Lt Gen Anup Jamwal, yesterday told media-persons at the LGBI Airport that 30 columns of the Indian Army were engaged in rescue and relief operations all over
Assam. The Army engineers have been engaged in bridge construction and Army personnel engaged in rescue operations with Boat Assault Universal Type (BAUT). Altogether 100 BAUTs and 86 Out Boat Models (OBM) of the Army have been pressed into service. Thousands of lifejackets of the Army have also been used during the operations. Over 4,000 marooned people have so far been rescued by the Army in the State. Over 40,000 people have been given assistance by the Army during the period.
The Air Force helicopters have airdropped 72 tonnes of rations in the flood-affected areas besides a number of tarpaulins, plastic sheets and sizeable quantities of kerosene, diesel and hand pumps in the affected areas. The relief materials airdropped were provided for by the State Government, Jamwal said. Besides, he said, some provisions, sarees, dhotis, hand towels and plastic buckets distributed by the Army among the affected people were made available by the Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh, he said. The Army also distributed medicines and members of its medical corps treated over 5,000 people in the affected areas. Several medical camps are being run by the Army for the benefit of the affected people. The Army engineer corps has so far launched five bridges in the affected areas of the State, Jamwal said.
Meanwhile, following a major breach on the NH-31 near Banekuchi village between Nalbari and Barama, the engineers of the Red Horns Division undertook a task of restoring communications. Yesterday, the 100-feet long Bailey bridge was opened for vehicular traffic yesterday.
Meanwhile, personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) headed by a DIG Umesh Kumar have been evacuating marooned people and taking them to safer places in various parts of the State. Equipped with HF, and VHF sets and satellite phones, the men of CISF have been operating in inaccessible areas distributing food, ration, and medicines among the flood-affected people.