Role of Libraries in the Simultaneous Threats of the COVID 19 Pandemic and Flood in Kamrup Metro District of Assam

Abstract

Corona virus disease or COVID-19 is a contagious disease caused by a virus named corona which is said to be originated from China. In the year 2021 the virus has got spread all the over the world which has resulted many deaths of the people. Also the physical library services were stopped to minimize the COVID cases. In the pandemic situation the information exchange plays a very vital role. Accurate information is the key to handle the chaotic situation. Exchange of false information seems to be on the rise. It has created a situation of ‘infodemic’ as stated by the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO). This has not only affected research work severely but has also created chaos among the laypeople. Flood event of the Brahmaputra River in the Indian north-eastern state of Assam coincided with the COVID-19 pandemic. Kamrup Metro district of Assam being in the bank of river Brahmaputra faces a severe flood problem. Due to the poor drainage system the people living in the district suffers from the problem of flood. Diseases such as Dengue, Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis are likely to increase in stagnant water left by receding floods. Treatment of these diseases have been hindered by fear of the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions have hampered the efforts to destroy mosquito breeding sites and awareness-raising among at-risk populations.