Guwahati, Jul 25 (IANS): President Ram Nath Kovind on Friday spoke to Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal over phone on the flood situation in Assam and expressed solidarity with the distressed people of the state.

Sonowal later said in a tweet: "President Ram Nath Kovind took stock of the flood and overall situation of the state over phone. I am humbled by his statement that the entire nation is with the people of Assam and thank him for his deep concern, constant support and guidance."

Earlier in the day, the President flagged off nine trucks carrying Red Cross relief supplies for the flood and Covid affected people of Assam, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh from the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi.

An Assam government official said that during the conversation, the Chief Minister apprised the President that along with the flood situation and related disasters, including landslides, the state is also fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, African swine fever outbreak and the oil well fire in Baghjan in Tinsukia district.

The floods have so far killed 96 people, besides affecting 28 lakh people in 2,543 villages in 26 districts. The floods, triggered by heavy rains, have inundated 122,573 hectares of crop area and have also damaged 30,605.