Guwahati, Aug 12: The Assam government is working in “mission mode” to repair and strengthen flood-damaged embankments across the state, with four of five breach points in Jorhat district already restored, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Wednesday.

Taking to X, CM Sarma said the state administration was working on a priority basis under the #AssamFloodResponse initiative to repair and strengthen embankments and prevent further damage in vulnerable areas.

“In Jorhat, work at 4 of the 5 breach points is already complete, with the remaining work at Shalmara nearing completion,” the Chief Minister said.

The progress comes as the state continues to strengthen its flood-control infrastructure following damage caused to embankments at several locations. Embankments play a crucial role in protecting Assam’s flood-prone settlements and agricultural areas from rising water levels.

Breaches in these structures can lead to rapid inundation of villages, farmland and infrastructure, making timely restoration critical.

The government has been directing officials and field agencies to accelerate repair works at vulnerable locations and reinforce embankments to improve their resilience against future flooding.

The Jorhat works are among the ongoing measures being undertaken as part of the state’s wider flood-response efforts. The completion of four breach points is expected to strengthen protection in the affected areas, while work at Shalmara is being expedited for early completion.

Assam remains particularly vulnerable to annual floods because of its extensive river network, including the Brahmaputra and its tributaries.

Flooding frequently affects habitation, agriculture, roads and other public infrastructure across several districts.

The state government has also been focusing on preventive measures, including strengthening embankments at vulnerable stretches and improving preparedness before subsequent waves of flooding.

CM Sarma’s update highlights the administration’s emphasis on rapid restoration of damaged flood-control infrastructure while simultaneously working to strengthen embankments against future threats.

The Chief Minister said the government would continue working in mission mode, underscoring the priority being accorded to flood management and protection of vulnerable communities.

Mumbai : At least four people were killed and eight others were rescued after a landslide struck houses in the Chirag Nagar area of Ghatkopar amid heavy rains early on Wednesday, officials said.

Rescue operations remain underway as multiple agencies continue searching the debris for anyone who may still be trapped.

Mumbai Mayor Ritu Tawde visited the site and took stock of the ongoing rescue and relief operations. She also met affected families and offered condolences to those who lost their loved ones. Tawde directed all agencies at the site to intensify rescue efforts and ensure better coordination during the operation. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Eastern Suburbs), Dr. Avinash Dhakne, and other civic officials were also present.

The Mayor announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 4 lakh to the family of each person who died in the accident and Rs 50,000 for each injured person to support their medical treatment.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Fire Brigade, the incident occurred at around 3:48 a.m. at Gaushiya Chawl in Chirag Nagar, Ghatkopar. A portion of a hillock collapsed, sending soil and debris onto two to three houses in Ashok Nagar, Tekdi No. 3.

Officials had initially feared that five to six people were trapped beneath the debris. A senior Mumbai Police official later said that eight people had been rescued, of whom four were declared dead.

The accident site and the route leading to it are extremely narrow, making access difficult for rescue teams. Personnel from the BMC, Mumbai Fire Brigade, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Mumbai Police, ambulance services and other agencies are working together to locate and evacuate people who may remain trapped under the rubble.

Authorities said rescue and relief operations are continuing, while the administration is closely monitoring the situation and coordinating efforts at the site. The landslide comes as Mumbai experiences heavy rainfall, raising concerns over the safety of vulnerable settlements located near hill slopes and other landslide-prone areas.

Earlier reports had put the death toll at two, with four to five people feared trapped. The toll was subsequently reported to have risen to four after the rescue operation progressed.

Thiruvananthapuram : Urbanisation will be a critical driver of India’s economic transformation and its aspiration to become a developed nation by 2047, Arvind Panagariya, Chairman of the 16th Finance Commission, said on Wednesday.

Addressing the sixth edition of the Lok Bhavan Conversations organised by the Raj Bhavan on the theme ‘Urban Areas as Growth Engine for Viksit Bharat 2047’, Panagariya said India’s ambition to emerge as a developed and globally competitive $30-trillion economy cannot be realised without productive, resilient and efficiently governed cities.

He pointed out that virtually every developed country has high levels of urbanisation. India, too, has a long history of urban development and should not be apologetic about pursuing urbanization, he said.

Dr Panagariya said the focus of urbanisation should go beyond improving living conditions for existing urban populations. Cities must become business and job-friendly to attract people from rural areas and generate employment.

“Economic activity drives urbanisation,” he said, stressing that employment generation would also help transform rural settlements and peripheral areas of major cities and towns into vibrant urban spaces. The scarcity and high cost of urban land are among the biggest constraints on economic activity in Indian cities, Dr Panagariya said.

Acquiring large parcels of land for industrial and business activities remains extremely difficult because land holdings are highly fragmented and definitive land titles are often unavailable.

He cited the example of the Singur project in West Bengal, where thousands of individual land parcels had to be acquired, in contrast to large projects in countries such as the United States where land ownership is less fragmented.

He called for reforms to make land more readily available for productive economic activity and to reduce bottlenecks in land acquisition and urban development.

The Finance Commission Chairman also underlined the need for stronger municipal administration and better coordination among agencies responsible for urban development.

Cities need governance systems capable of supporting economic activity, infrastructure development and job creation, he said. Urban planning and land-use policies should foster entrepreneurship while improving citizens’ living conditions.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Rajendra Arlekar said urbanisation should not be equated with Westernisation. “Urbanisation should be initiated through our roots,” the Governor said, emphasising that India’s urban development must evolve from its own culture, traditions and thought processes rather than simply importing Western models.

He said urbanisation would make an important contribution to the economic development of the country and the realisation of the Viksit Bharat vision.