Assam flood: Death toll reaches 21, situation improves

Vartha Bharati | 22-06-2018 | 21:25:00 IST

Guwahati, June 22: Three more persons died due to floods in two districts of Barak Valley in Assam, taking the death toll in the first wave of floods this year to 21, even as the overall flood situation improved in the state on Friday.

Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) officials said that three people died: one in Karimganj and two others in Cachar -- due to flood on Friday. A total of 3,69,402 people are reportedly reeling under flood in 449 villages of five flood hit districts.

"The flood situation has improved. While water has receded in some villages, there are many inmates of the relief camps who had left for their houses," said ASDMA officials.

It may be mentioned here that over 700 villages in the state have been submerged due to the floods in five districts of the state earlier this week.

"However, three persons died due to flood on Friday: one in Karimganj and two in Cachar," the officials said.

While the flood waters have receded in Nagaon district, Hojai, Dhemaji, Cachar, Karimganj and Hailakandi districts continue to be affected due to flood as on Friday.

Floods have severely affected three districts in Barak Valley.

As on Friday only 78 relief and shelter camps were functional with little over 30,000 people taking shelter while the rest of the people have left for their homes. None of the major rivers of the state are flowing above danger levels, the ASDMA officials said.

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Time has come to implement Women's Reservation Act: PM Modi's letter to LS, RS floor leaders

12-04-2026 ¦ 12-04-2026 IST

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (PTI)

New Delhi (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that the time has come for the implementation of the Women's Reservation Act in its true spirit and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are conducted with the quota for women in place.

In a letter to the floor leaders of Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, ahead of the three-day special sittings of Parliament, Modi also asked all members to come together in one voice to pass the amendments to the women's reservation law, officially known as Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam.

"After extensive deliberations, we have reached the conclusion that the time has now come to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam in its true spirit across the country.

"It is imperative that the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and Assembly elections are conducted with women's reservation in place," the Prime Minister said in his letter dated April 11.

The Budget Session of Parliament has been extended, and a special three-day sitting of the House has been convened on April 16 to 18.

The Women's Reservation Act will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816, of which 273 will be reserved for women.

The provision to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies was brought by amending the Constitution in 2023.

However, the women's quota would have come into effect only after the completion of the delimitation exercise on the basis of the 2027 Census. This meant the reservation would not have become enforceable before 2034 if the present law remains as is.

To implement it from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, changes were needed in the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam; hence, the government is holding a special session to pass the amendments to the law.