Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam remains in the grip of a disaster. The state flood death toll has climbed to 75. Over 445,000 people across six districts are currently affected by the deluge. More than 631 villages are underwater. Relief teams manage 184 camps sheltering 28,700 people.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the state is working on a war footing. He announced Rs 15,000 in direct cash aid for families in Charaideo, Sivasagar, Golaghat, and Jorhat. The government removed postmortem requirements for the Rs 9 lakh ex-gratia death compensation. Seven people remain missing in Nazira. Their families may claim aid after one month if they remain untraced.
The Indian Air Force has rescued 458 people and dropped nine tonnes of supplies in Assam and Nagaland. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Sarma twice in one week to assess the crisis. Sarma shared the update on X, writing, "Hon'ble Union Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji telephoned me a short while ago to review the ongoing relief efforts in the wake of the #AssamFloods."
Legislators are pledging one month of salary to relief efforts. This includes members of Congress, AIUDF, AGP, BPF, BJP, and TMC legislator Sherman Ali. The Raijor Dal made no such announcement. Badruddin Ajmal donated Rs 2 crore personally. Riniki Bhuyan Sharma pledged Rs 1 crore to rebuild 50 schools.
Sivasagar MLA Akhil Gogoi called the relief inadequate. He demanded Rs 10 lakh for every affected family and a Rs 400 crore special package for his constituency. Congress MLA Joy Prakash Das also demanded higher compensation. The BJP is running a drive to clothe 400,000 women and children. Agriculture Minister Pijush Hazarika promised free seeds to farmers in Jorhat, Sivasagar, and Charaideo.
In a separate enforcement move, Assam Police seized 31,800 bottles of contraband worth Rs 3.18 crore in Sribhumi. Two people are in custody.
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