The ongoing floods in Assam have claimed the lives of two individuals, raising the total number of fatalities to eighty-two this year. As reported on Saturday, approximately 1,92,799 residents across five districts remain affected by the flood situation. The districts most severely impacted include Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Charaideo.

Reports indicate an improvement since Thursday, when the number of affected individuals exceeded two lakh in eight districts. The local government has been taking steps to coordinate relief efforts and assess the damage caused by the floods.

Officials have highlighted the severe conditions of the Dikhow and Dhansiri rivers in Sivasagar and Numaligarh, Golaghat, and residents are being urged to stay away from these areas. Approximately 13,000 individuals are currently taking shelter in fifty-four relief camps, while twenty-six relief distribution centres are catering to 5,384 people.

Government Initiatives for Flood Relief

The Assam government has announced several relief measures aimed at supporting those affected by the flooding. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma mentioned that the state cabinet convened on Friday to formulate plans for expediting insurance claims related to vehicle, livestock, and property damage.

On August 5, the government intends to meet with officials from both private and public insurance companies to expedite claims payments for those affected. The government plans to extend this discussion to non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) to request repayment pauses for borrowers in the four severely impacted districts of Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat.

As a part of various financial support measures, it was agreed during a special meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee that all individuals from the flood-affected regions would receive a six-month moratorium on loan repayments. These actions reflect the government’s commitment to assist those facing hardships due to natural calamities.

Ongoing Relief and Assistance Operations

Relief operations remain active, with several agencies engaged in ongoing support and assistance efforts. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are among the key organisations involved in rescue operations.

Amidst the flood situation, authorities have also begun conducting rapid assessments of the damage to ensure that funds for repairs can be allocated promptly. In total, Charaideo has experienced the highest level of impact, with 77,456 individuals affected, followed by Sivasagar at 63,492 and Jorhat at 34,067.

In a social media update, Chief Minister Sarma confirmed that the government had approved Rs 41.67 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar programme, which will benefit 9,289 households in the affected areas. He instructed the Power Department to ensure that the Assam Power Distribution Corporation Ltd transfers the approved funds directly to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts by Tuesday.

As the affected districts continue to grappling with the floods, the state government is intensifying its efforts to provide financial support and facilitate claim resolutions, recognising the challenges faced by those currently residing in relief camps.

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