Shillong: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered an end to post-mortem examinations for flood victims. He intends to swap rigid bureaucracy for human compassion. The policy shift allows families to perform funeral rites without state-mandated delays. Sarma announced this change on social media Tuesday, aiming to spare relatives from unnecessary suffering during the disaster.
The state government is also opening its wallet. Sarma confirmed an additional Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the families of each deceased individual. This payment sits on top of the standard Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia grant, pushing total compensation to Rs 9 lakh per death. Relief must move fast. Officials have strict orders to process these payments without avoidable administrative hurdles.
Sarma spoke to the media on Wednesday regarding the financial packages. "The pain of losing loved ones cannot be alleviated by any amount of financial assistance. Nevertheless, to provide support to the families affected by the floods, an additional assistance of Rs 5 lakh will be provided from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the family members of each deceased person," he said. Every flood-hit family in the hardest-pressed districts will also receive an immediate interim payment of Rs 15,000.
This emergency aid reaches across the board. It includes government employees, ASHA workers, and Mid-Day Meal staff. Thousands remain displaced across Upper Assam as rising rivers and constant rain destroy homes and farms. Relief camps now provide food, water, and medicine to those forced from their land. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority, alongside the SDRF and NDRF, continues intense search and rescue missions. Agencies are keeping a close watch on water levels while delivering essential supplies to villages cut off by the floods.
Comments