Guwahati — The government of Assam has announced a broad relief package for people affected by recent floods in the state’s worst-hit districts, including financial assistance for bereaved families, displaced households, students and beneficiaries of a welfare scheme.
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma during a live address on social media as flood-hit communities across Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat continue recovery efforts following one of the region’s most destructive floods in recent years.
Among the key measures, the state government said families of people who died in the floods will receive a total of ₹9 lakh in financial assistance. This includes the existing ₹4 lakh ex gratia payment provided under government rules and an additional ₹5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
The chief minister also said that families would no longer be required to submit a post-mortem report to receive the government compensation if a death occurred during the floods. Instead, assistance will be released based on certification by the local Circle Officer, a move the government says is intended to prevent delays in areas where post-mortem examinations could not be conducted because of the disaster.
State authorities said seven people remain missing. If they are not traced within one month, their families will be considered eligible for the same compensation package. According to the government, payments in such cases will also be processed on the basis of official field reports without requiring lengthy police procedures.
The government has also announced ₹15,000 in interim assistance for families whose homes have been severely damaged or who have lost most of their belongings. Officials said the money is intended to help people clean damaged houses and replace essential household items while longer-term rehabilitation is planned.
Deputy Commissioners have been asked to identify eligible households, with the government estimating that between 90,000 and 100,000 families could qualify for the assistance.
In addition, all beneficiaries of Assam’s Orunodoi income support scheme in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat will receive an additional ₹2,500 on 1 August, regardless of whether their households suffered direct flood damage. Those who are both Orunodoi beneficiaries and classified as severely affected will receive both forms of assistance.
The state has also announced special support for students whose educational materials were destroyed in the floods. School uniforms and textbooks will be replaced for students up to Class X in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts, while one-time grants of ₹1,000 for Higher Secondary students, ₹3,000 for undergraduate students and ₹5,000 for postgraduate students will be provided to help replace books and study materials.
Officials also said students and residents whose mark sheets or educational certificates were lost in the floods would be able to obtain duplicate documents free of charge from the relevant education boards and universities in the affected districts.
The government said a detailed assessment of damage to homes, farmland, fisheries, livestock and handloom units will begin on 3 August. The survey is expected to determine compensation under existing disaster relief norms in addition to the interim payments already announced.
According to the chief minister, the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund has received ₹26.58 crore in donations for flood relief, along with around ₹60 lakh contributed through thousands of smaller public donations. He said the money would be used for relief and rehabilitation work in the four worst-affected districts.
The government estimates that this year’s floods have affected 2,157 villages across 78 revenue circles in Assam. Official figures cited by the chief minister put the flood-related death toll in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat at 61, with six additional deaths reported elsewhere in the state.
Authorities also said about 74,000 livestock have died and more than 73,000 hectares of agricultural land have been damaged, adding to the economic impact of the disaster.
Rescue and relief operations have been underway since 18 July, involving the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, Assam Police and local administration. According to the state government, 29,982 people have been rescued using 129 boats, while relief operations continue in areas where floodwaters have yet to fully recede.
