Assam Government Shifts Focus to Rehabilitation as Floodwaters Recede

Relief Operations Transition to Rehabilitation Efforts

Guwahati, July 26: As floodwaters in Upper Assam began to recede on Sunday, the state government shifted its strategy from immediate rescue efforts to extensive rehabilitation initiatives. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma revealed a comprehensive restoration plan, with ministers set to visit the affected districts right after the current Assembly session.

During a live social media address, Sarma emphasized the urgent need to ensure that every affected family receives relief while also preparing for the long-term recovery in the severely impacted districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat.

The recent floods, described as the most severe in nearly twenty years, have impacted 19 revenue circles, affecting 1,040 villages and nearly 978,000 individuals. Currently, 145 relief camps are housing 41,945 people, and rescue teams have successfully evacuated 28,645 individuals.

With the water levels dropping in various regions, the government is now broadening its relief distribution efforts and planning to restore damaged public infrastructure.

“Once the Assembly session concludes, ministers from all departments will head to the affected areas to carry out sector-specific restoration tasks, including repairing schools, reinstating healthcare services, rebuilding rural infrastructure, and expediting rehabilitation,” the Chief Minister stated.

Sarma pointed out that many schools and anganwadi centers have been submerged, making the restoration of educational and public services a top priority in the next phase of the government's response.

To enhance the delivery of relief, specially prepared family relief kits have started arriving in the affected districts from Kamrup Metro, Nagaon, Sonitpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Tinsukia.

Each kit includes 8 kg of rice, 2 kg of dal, one liter of mustard oil, salt, and candles, with food packet distributions set to continue over the next week.

So far, the government has distributed 14,400 quintals of rice, 2,736 quintals of dal, and 58,967 liters of mustard oil to families impacted by the floods.

Highlighting improvements in aerial relief operations, Sarma mentioned that the air-drop mechanism was modified after reports of food packets being damaged during delivery.

Following discussions with the General Officer Commanding of the Eastern Air Command in Shillong, the new system was successfully implemented in Nazira and Sivasagar, allowing for safer delivery of supplies to isolated villages.

According to the Chief Minister, the Indian Air Force has conducted 29 sorties, air-dropping over 4,100 relief packages to communities cut off from assistance.

Rescue and relief operations are ongoing, with 250 personnel from the NDRF, supported by 36 NDRF boats, 65 SDRF and Fire and Emergency Services boats, three Indian Army boats, and 82 country boats mobilized from Majuli and surrounding areas.

While acknowledging that some remote villages may still be awaiting help, Sarma assured that the administration is working diligently to ensure that no affected family is overlooked.

As rehabilitation efforts ramp up, he urged citizens, voluntary organizations, and civil society groups to donate essential household items such as clothing, utensils, educational kits, medical supplies, baby food, and disinfectants, which will be vital as thousands of families return to their damaged homes.

The Chief Minister expressed gratitude to ministers, MLAs, volunteers, and organizations involved in the relief efforts.

He noted that Cabinet ministers Keshab Mahanta, Susanta Borgohain, and Bimal Borah have been actively present in Charaideo and Sivasagar since the onset of the floods, while Finance Minister Ajanta Neog has been overseeing relief operations in Jorhat and Golaghat.

Sarma also mentioned that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have been in regular contact to monitor the situation, and a central assessment team has begun evaluating flood damage in Charaideo, with plans to visit Sivasagar, Jorhat, and Golaghat before submitting their findings to the Union Home Ministry.

The floods have tragically claimed 65 lives across Assam, with 59 fatalities in the four most affected districts. Seven individuals remain unaccounted for, while the disaster has resulted in the loss of 21,007 livestock, damaged over 70,884 hectares of agricultural land, and severely impacted schools and other public infrastructure.