Assam Government Disburses ₹160 Crore in Interim Relief for Flood-Affected Families
Interim Relief for Flood Victims in Assam
Guwahati, August 3 - The Assam government has released the first installment of approximately ₹160 crore in interim relief for over 75,000 families severely impacted by this year's floods. Officials confirmed this information, noting that the death toll from the floods has risen to 85.
On Sunday, three additional fatalities were reported, while the number of individuals affected by the floods has decreased to around 136,000. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is currently visiting the most affected districts in Upper Assam, where he initiated the disbursement of the first relief installment from Dibrugarh.
According to officials, families in the districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat, whose homes have suffered significant damage, are receiving ₹15,000 each as interim assistance. Additionally, eligible families are being provided with subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana. The Chief Minister had previously announced several interim relief measures for the worst-hit districts.
The expenses for these initiatives will be covered by donations received in the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. On social media, the Chief Minister stated, "Approximately ₹160 crore has been directly deposited into the bank accounts of families affected by the floods in Assam. This morning, I transferred the promised interim assistance of ₹15,000 to around 75,000 of the most affected families across four districts."
He added that the government is striving to provide immediate cash assistance to affected families, enabling them to begin rebuilding their lives before a comprehensive assessment of final compensation is conducted. Sarma mentioned, "An additional installment of ₹10,000 will be released in the coming days for families severely affected in Sivasagar and Charaideo. Our government stands firmly with families enduring hardships."
He emphasized that the government is adopting a 'multi-faceted approach' to ensure cash assistance is available to the people. The Chief Minister remarked, "By issuing state subsidies under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Yojana, we have adopted another means to assist those affected by the floods in Assam."
Following this, Sarma toured various areas in Sivasagar district to review relief and rehabilitation efforts and meet with affected individuals.
Currently, a total of 136,200 people in Charaideo, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Sivasagar districts remain affected by the floods. On Saturday, approximately 180,000 individuals were impacted across these five districts. Sivasagar continues to be the most severely affected district, with over 55,000 individuals impacted.
In Charaideo, around 40,000 people are affected, while Jorhat has about 22,000 individuals impacted. The administration is operating a total of 54 relief camps and distribution centers across these five districts, currently providing shelter and assistance to 13,771 individuals. Additionally, 15,422 hectares of agricultural land in the affected districts remain submerged.
Officials reported that the Dhansiri River in Numaligarh, Golaghat district, is flowing above the danger mark.