Assam BJP MLA’s ‘piggyback’ ride sparks outrage

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The netizens accused him of ‘insensitive’ behaviour, especially at a time when lakhs of people in Assam are reeling under pre-monsoon floods….reports Asian Lite News

Assam BJP MLA from Lumding Assembly constituency, Sibu Misra, has triggered a controversy after a video went viral on social media showing Misra taking a piggyback ride on a water-logged street to inspect the flood situation in his locality.

The netizens accused him of ‘insensitive’ behaviour, especially at a time when lakhs of people in Assam are reeling under pre-monsoon floods.

In the video, Misra could be seen being carried on the shoulders by a rescue worker to a boat located only a few steps away, in what appeared to be barely knee-deep water.

The netizens lambasted Misra, saying that he was taking advantage of his position and took the piggyback ride while mocking the people affected by the floods. The opposition also slammed the ruling party legislator on this issue.

However, Misra claimed that he was unwell and the worker volunteered to carry him to the boat.

Assam floods have affected more than seven lakh people across 29 districts leaving nine people dead.

“Till now, 7,17,046 people across 29 districts have been affected due to the flood situation in the state. 9 people have died in floods and landslides so far,” Assam State Disaster Management Authority said on Thursday.

Assam State Disaster Management Authority said that at present 1413 villages are underwater and Nagaon is the most affected district where 2.88 lakh people are reeling under the calamity. In Cachar nearly 1.2 lakh people and in Hojai more than 1.07 lakh people were affected, it said.

Heart-wrenching videos emerged from the flood-hit state. A portion of the Kampur-Kathiatali connecting road in the Nagaon district got washed away today morning in floods. Several parts of the state are reeling under flood.

Assam Rifles, National Disaster Response Force and the Indian Army are carrying out rescue and relief operations in flood-hit areas of the state. Further, Assam Cabinet decided to introduce an emergency flight service between Silchar and Guwahati at the rate of Rs 3000, to mitigate the communication crisis due to floods and landslides in Dima Hasao and Barak Valley.

In view of the flood situation, the Cachar district administration has closed all educational institutions (government and private) and non-essential private establishments for 48 hours (May 19th and 20th) in the district.

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