Adil Hussain Decodes Why Assam Drowns Every Year And Why We Are Miserably Failing At Saving It

"When I look at them, I wonder how people who are responsible for assuring corrective measures are implemented on time can sleep at night. The death toll is increasing.", says an extremely worried and disappointed Adil Hussain. It's that time of the year in Assam when several helpless screams go unnoticed by the authorities. As we sit at the comfort of our homes, there are several displaced people in Assam who are crying out loud for help.

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The floods have ravished the North-eastern state and houses of many have been destroyed and the floodwaters have entered the schools bringing the lives of the people to a standstill.

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Let's not even talking about the issue of clean drinking problem as it still remains one of the biggest crises for them. Even today, hundreds of villages in the district are submerged due to the floods that have hit the whole North-eastern state.?

We spoke to actor Adil Hussain, who himself belongs to Goalpara in Assam. Talking to Indiames, Adil said,

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"I've seen this happen every year. I am 55 years old and since last five decades, I see that the problem persists-every year, I see Assam getting submerged in water due to excessive rains and subsequent flooding."

Adil went to explain how the situation has only turned bad to worse in all these years.

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"The town has come under the water and we may be the lucky ones but there are people in the low-line areas who have lost everything. I saw an interview of a lady who has became a beggar as she has nothing left. For the first time ever, water actually entered my brother's house, which my brother and I built in Goalpara town, and my mother had to be carried to higher ground. "

Questioning the lack of political apathy and action, Adil added,

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"I cannot understand why we haven't found a long-term solution. Nothing to say, I am speechless and dumbfounded. If we look back, since the time India got liberated from Britishers till today, I fail to understand how we could never figure out a permanent solution that could affect lesser people. I understand that it is a tricky situation considering rain cannot be predicted from before but it's been over 7 years and with all the climate change, the pattern of rains have become predictable. Now we know that there are regions where we receive heavier than usual rainfall."

Comparing the situation of India to other countries that have managed to harness rain water and other natural resources judiciously, he added,

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"Countries like Holland and Norway have carefully harnessed their water resources, especially rainwater. Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is one of the four largest airports in Europe and it is 5 meters below sea level. They clearly know how to use their resources. India has been giving birth to great scientific minds but it's sad that India still does not have the power to find a solution for this. Either I think we don't have it or maybe we don't want to resolve it."

Just a few weeks ago, Adil had given an update on the actual state of Assam and how people are in dire need of help. Did anyone respond to him? He says,

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"The only responses that I got were from friends who genuinely wanted to donate money. Thanks to social media that now we have credible and honest organizations on the ground who are doing a commendable job and transferring every penny where it is indeed needed. Apart from that, I haven't heard from anyone else."

While there is not much help from administrative forces and the government of Assam, there have been celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan and Akshay Kumar who have come out and donate money generously. However, Adil thinks that their generosity should not be mistaken for their obligation. He adds,

"First of all, the very fact that media is reaching out to actors is sad because the real authorities have failed. I am not an elected or designated member to extend help to a flood-stuck Assam as it's not our job to save people from a natural disaster. As an actor, my job is to evoke empathy and awareness among people while you guys watch our films. We have nothing to do with Assam floods. If I am tweeting and talking about it, it's because I am dumbfounded with the current situation. I just can't see this happening every year. I was angry, sad and disheartened with the condition."?

Hussain concludes by stating a heartbreaking fact about government's negligence.?

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"Actors who are donating are people who have nothing to do with Assam floods but people who are doing nothing are the actual people who have everything to do with Assam floods. I think we should be thankful to these actors who have donated money for relief funds. The actual people who are concerned are treating it like it's nobody's business."

Floods have killed more than 100 people in Bihar and affected more than 80 lakh in 12 districts. In Assam, the toll is nearly 70 with 28 lakh people hit in 19 of the the state's 33 districts.