Guwahati: Families of people who died in Assam’s ongoing flood crisis will receive Rs 4 lakh as financial assistance from the state government, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday.
The announcement came as the flood situation worsened, with nearly 5.65 lakh people affected across 12 districts and the death toll rising to 31.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma assessed the flood situation in Sivasagar and Charaideo, assuring affected families of state support across rescue, rehabilitation, and livelihood restoration.
“There has been extensive destruction due to the floods. I have assured affected families that they are not alone during this crisis. The government will stand with them throughout the rehabilitation process and help restore their livelihoods,” Sarma told reporters in Sivasagar.
The Chief Minister said reaching several affected villages remains a challenge as damaged connectivity and rising floodwaters have prevented officials from accessing some areas.
“Many people stranded in their homes cannot be reached because there are no proper roads or communication facilities. The administration accepts that several locations remain inaccessible at present. Once the water level decreases, we will be able to reach those areas. We are making every effort to reduce the difficulties faced by people,” he said.
Sarma, however, said government relief camps have adequate supplies and announced that the next of kin of every person who died in the floods would receive Rs 4 lakh compensation.
Figures released by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) showed that 21 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours, taking the total number of flood-related deaths this year to 31. Among the latest casualties, Sivasagar recorded 13 deaths, including four women and two children, while Charaideo reported five deaths, Golaghat two and Jorhat one.
The disaster management authority said more than 5.64 lakh people have been affected in Biswanath, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Sivasagar and Tinsukia districts.
Sivasagar has emerged as the worst-affected district, with nearly 3.6 lakh people impacted by the floods. Jorhat has reported around 88,000 affected residents, while more than 72,500 people in Charaideo have been affected.
At a relief camp in Charaideo, Sarma met families forced to leave their homes due to the floods. He assured them that medical arrangements would be made for seriously ill and immobile persons and said the government would help residents obtain replacement documents for important papers lost during the disaster.
The flood situation has intensified since Monday night, when around 3.63 lakh people were affected. ASDMA said 273 relief camps and relief distribution centres are currently functioning in 10 districts, providing shelter to 12,284 displaced people.
Rescue teams comprising personnel from the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, police and civil administration have rescued more than 6,000 people from Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar.
Authorities distributed 5,011.07 quintals of rice, 956.53 quintals of dal, 265.18 quintals of salt and 20,115.42 litres of mustard oil among flood-affected families in the last 24 hours.
The widespread flooding has affected 872 villages, destroyed crops across 24,210.35 hectares of farmland and impacted more than 1.85 lakh livestock and poultry.
Several flood-affected districts have also reported damage to protective structures, transport links and other essential facilities.