Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi will visit Assam today to take stock of the flood situation in the state. Assam Chief Minister’s Press Secretary Abdul Khaleque said that the Prime Minister and UPA Chairperson are expected to reach Jorhat by a special flight and conduct an aerial survey of Majuli Island and Dhakuakhana. The Opposition Asom Gana Parishad has urged the Prime Minister to declare Assam flood as a national calamity.

The helicopters of the Indian Air Force have undertaken 24 sorties on relief and rescue mission in the flood-affected areas since Thursday. They have dropped nearly 4,000 kilograms of food packets.

The recent flood has affected more than 19 lakh people. Prime Minister already announced an ex-gratia of 1 lakh rupees to the kin of those killed in flood. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi also declared an ex-gratia of 1 lakh rupees to the kin of those killed in flood and landslides. AIR Correspondent reports that so far 61 people lost their lives in flood and another 16 in landslides.