Assam Floods: The flood situation in Assam remains critical. With seven more deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the death toll from the floods in the state has risen to 75. According to the latest report from the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS), all seven deaths occurred due to drowning in the Sivasagar district. Lakhs of people continue to grapple with the impact of the floods, while thousands of hectares of agricultural land remain submerged. Given the severity of the situation, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced a comprehensive relief and rehabilitation package, which includes provisions for special financial assistance to the families of the deceased, students, and severely affected households.
Seven more deaths in Sivasagar; concerns mount
According to data from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, seven people drowned in Sivasagar district over the last 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from this year’s floods to 75. Currently, the districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Sonitpur, and Kamrup (Metropolitan) are the most severely affected. The administration is continuously carrying out relief and rescue operations.
3.32 lakh people affected; 622 villages submerged
According to the latest report, 622 villages across 21 revenue circles in the state have been affected by the floods. A total of 332,639 people are grappling with this disaster. In many areas, people have been moved to safe locations and relief camps. The administration is keeping a close watch on the situation.
Severe damage to the agricultural sector
The floods have had a widespread impact on agriculture. According to the report, 45,341.98 hectares of crop area remain submerged. The Dhansiri River is still flowing above the danger mark at Numaligarh. However, there are currently no reports of any river exceeding its highest recorded flood level. ₹9 lakh assistance for families of the deceased
Announcing a relief package, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the government would spare no effort in the rehabilitation of the affected people. In addition to the ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh provided to the next of kin of those who died in the floods, the government has announced an additional ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Consequently, each affected family will receive a total financial assistance of ₹9 lakh. The government has also decided that a post-mortem examination will not be mandatory to claim the ex-gratia payment in cases of flood-related deaths.
Relief for families of missing persons
The state government has announced that the next of kin of individuals missing for more than 30 days will also be provided an ex-gratia payment of ₹4 lakh, following the completion of legal formalities. This decision is expected to bring relief to families who have been living in uncertainty regarding their loved ones.
Cash assistance for one lakh families
The Chief Minister stated that over one lakh severely affected families would receive cash assistance of ₹15,000 as immediate relief. Families will be able to use this amount to meet expenses for food, medicines, and other essential needs.
