Guwahati, July 22 -- Sivasagar MLA and Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi on Wednesday urged the Assam government to press the Centre to declare the state's recurring floods a national disaster, while calling for a special relief package and intensified rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the worst-affected districts of Upper Assam.

Gogoi appealed to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to address what he described as the immediate needs of flood-hit communities. He sought a special flood relief package for Sivasagar, Jorhat, Charaideo and other affected districts, deployment of at least 50 rescue boats with adequate personnel in the Sivasagar constituency, and timely provision of food, clothing, healthcare and other essential services to d...