Severe Flooding in Upper Assam: Government Announces Relief Measures

Flood Crisis in Upper Assam

Sivasagar, July 22: Upper Assam is grappling with severe flooding, leading to significant uncertainty regarding the extent of damages. In response, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared an ex gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh for the families of each deceased victim, as approximately 70 individuals remain unaccounted for in Sivasagar district alone.

During his visit to flood-affected families in Sivasagar, the Chief Minister stated, "We will promptly provide Rs 4 lakh to the families of every deceased individual. I will also strive to assist them in the future." He emphasized the government's commitment to supporting affected families throughout the rehabilitation process.

"The floods have caused significant destruction. I assured the impacted families that they are not alone during this crisis. Our government is with them at every step of recovery and rebuilding their livelihoods," he informed the media.

Assam CM assessing the flood situation in various areas of Sivasagar district on Wednesday (Photo: @himantabiswa/X)

Sivasagar has been identified as the most severely affected district, with nearly 360,000 residents impacted. Jorhat follows with around 88,000 affected individuals, while over 72,500 people have been affected in Charaideo.

The Chief Minister noted that it is premature to determine the final death toll due to the number of missing persons. "Estimating the death toll is challenging at this moment as around 70 individuals are still unaccounted for in Sivasagar. We will have a clearer picture in three to four days," he remarked.

He described the devastation as unprecedented, having reviewed the situation in Charaideo, Sivasagar, and Jorhat while meeting with affected residents. "This is unprecedented. Water levels have risen to the rooftops of homes. Many lives have been lost, and there has been extensive damage to properties and farmland, along with the loss of livestock," Sarma stated.

Earlier, residents in Sivasagar expressed concerns regarding delays in rescue operations and shortages of relief supplies in certain areas. While district officials claimed that large-scale relief efforts were ongoing, some residents from inundated areas on the outskirts of Sivasagar reported that rescue teams did not reach them promptly, forcing families to evacuate independently.

According to official reports, authorities have distributed 1,335.814 quintals of rice, 259.191 quintals of dal, 174,305 liters of drinking water, 4,715 tarpaulins, and 2,320 liters of infant food across the Nazira, Sivasagar, and Dimow revenue circles, along with essential items like salt, mustard oil, biscuits, and flattened rice.

In response to requests, including those from Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi for more rescue boats, Sarma assured that the government would make the necessary arrangements. "There are no issues with conducting airlift operations, but landing is problematic as the entire area is submerged. We face practical challenges, but we are doing everything possible," he reiterated, noting that many regions remain hard to access due to geographical limitations.

Amid the destruction, there was some relief as floodwaters began to recede in parts of Sivasagar. According to the district Water Resources Control Room, water levels in the Brahmaputra, Dihing, and Dikhou rivers have started to decline, although they still exceed the danger mark in several areas. However, water levels in the Disang and Darika rivers have risen again, while the Mitong River remains stable.

With inputs from various sources