Over 1.92 lakh people remain affected by floods in Assam, with the death toll rising to 82 after two more fatalities reported. Flood-affected districts include Sivasagar, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Charaideo, prompting state officials to intensify relief measures.
The situation began to improve on Thursday, with the number of affected individuals decreasing from more than 2 lakh to 1,92,799. Still, rivers like Dikhow and Dhansiri currently face severe floods in Sivasagar and Numaligarh, urging authorities to advise residents to stay away from dangerous areas.
Approximately 13,000 residents have taken refuge in 54 relief camps across the state. Additionally, 26 relief distribution centres cater to the immediate needs of over 5,384 individuals. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) are actively participating in relief efforts.
In response to the calamity, the Assam government plans to engage insurance companies and non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) for the swift processing of claims. They aim to provide a moratorium to affected customers in the impacted areas. Authorities emphasize a detailed assessment of the damage to expedite funding for repair efforts.
Officials confirmed the two latest deaths occurred in Sivasagar and Charaideo, increasing the overall toll to 82. The areas most affected include Charaideo with 77,456 individuals impacted, followed by Sivasagar with 63,492 and Jorhat with 34,067.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a state cabinet meeting scheduled for August 5 with both government and private insurance firms to discuss rapid claim settlements for damaged vehicles, livestock, and other properties.
The chief minister also revealed plans to meet with NBFCs on the same day to request a moratorium for borrowers in the severely affected districts.
The decisions follow a special meeting of the State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), where it was confirmed that a six-month repayment moratorium would be offered across the flood-impacted areas. This initiative directly addresses concerns in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat.
In a recent social media update, Sarma noted a significant allocation of ₹41.67 crore under the PM Surya Ghar scheme as pending state subsidy for flood-affected residents. This fund aims to directly assist 9,289 beneficiaries in calamity-affected zones.
In his message, the chief minister reassured residents, stating, “As floods affect four districts of Assam, our government stands firmly with every affected family. We have approved necessary relief measures and the direct transfer of funds by the Assam Power Distribution Corporation Ltd. to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts by Tuesday.”
