Assam flood toll climbs to 75, CM Sarma announces Rs 9 lakh aid for bereaved families
Guwahati, July 29: Assam's flood crisis has taken a grimmer turn, with the death toll climbing to 75 after seven more people lost their lives in Sivasagar district, prompting the state government to announce an enhanced compensation package and a series of relief measures for affected families.
According to the latest Disaster Reporting and Information Management System (DRIMS) report, all seven fatalities reported on July 28 were caused by drowning in Sivasagar.
The floods continue to batter seven districts, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Sonitpur and Kamrup (Metropolitan), while large parts of the state remain inundated.
The disaster has affected 3,32,639 people spread across 622 villages in 21 revenue circles.
The agricultural sector has suffered extensive losses, with 45,341.98 hectares of farmland still underwater.
The Dhansiri River at Numaligarh continues to flow above the danger level, although no river has crossed the highest flood level mark so far.
Amid the worsening situation, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an expanded relief package to support both bereaved families and those displaced by the floods.
'We will leave no stone unturned to support our people and help them rebuild their lives,' the Chief Minister said in a post on X.
Under the revised measures, the state government has waived the mandatory post-mortem requirement for families seeking the Rs 4 lakh ex gratia assistance in flood-related deaths.
In addition, another Rs 5 lakh will be provided from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, taking the total financial assistance for each bereaved family to Rs 9 lakh.
Families of people who remain missing for more than 30 days will also be eligible for Rs 4 lakh ex gratia.
The government has also announced immediate financial assistance of Rs 15,000 for more than one lakh severely flood-affected families to help meet essential needs.
Relief measures have also been extended to beneficiaries of the Orunodoi scheme. From August 1, beneficiaries in Charaideo, Jorhat, Golaghat and Sivasagar will receive a special instalment of Rs 2,500 for the month.
Students affected by the floods have also been brought under the relief package.
Beginning August 1, book grants ranging from Rs 1,000 for Higher Secondary students to Rs 5,000 for Post-Graduate students will be disbursed.
The government will also provide free textbooks, assistance for school uniforms, and reissue lost Class X and XII marksheets and certificates without any charge.