How Cyclone Remal has affected agriculture in Assam

Guwahati: More than 750 Assam villages have been affected in the aftermath of the Cyclone Remal, which initially made landfall in Bangladesh and West Bengal state.

Business North East spoke to the officer of Disaster Management of the Agriculture Department of Assam who informed that 32,462 farm families are directly affected.

The official said, "As many as 82 hectares of early ahu and bodo paddy were destroyed. Moreover, 38 hectares of oil seeds, 29 hectares of summer pulses, 165 hectares, and 40 hectares of sugarcane were destroyed. Additionally, as much as 2561.73 hectares of Kharif crop were destroyed. About 158 hectares of other crops were also destroyed. A total of 3,740.23 hectares of crops have been affected across Assam."

In the Cachar district, 200 villages were affected affecting 7,210 farm families. Similarly, Hailakandi, Hojai, Karimganj, and Nagaon, also reported massive losses. "Across the districts, 750 villages and 32,462 farm families are affected", the official added.

Cyclone Remal has caused heavy rain and strong winds in Assam, causing several districts to be on high alert. Red alerts have been issued for Chirang, Goalpara, Baksa, Dima Hasao, Cachar, Hailakandi, and Karimganj districts, while Orange alerts have been issued for Dhubri, South Salmara, Bongaigaon, Bajali, Tamulpur, Barpeta, Nalbari, Morigaon, Nagaon, Hojai, and West Karbi Anglong districts.

The storm has disrupted power supply in most affected districts, including Guwahati. District administrations have closed schools and canceled trains. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority has directed all District Disaster Management Authority (DDMAs) to review the situation and regulate boats plying in the Brahmaputra River. 

Meanwhile, the state government has taken extensive measures to ensure citizen safety, with the National Disaster Response Force and State Disaster Response Force on standby and control rooms operational. 

PM Modi, on Saturday, announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund (PMNRF) to the kin of deceased in natural disasters in the aftermath of cyclone Remal in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal.

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