Assam Flood Relief: Tax Waivers and Electricity Aid for Hardest-Hit Districts

Guwahati: The Assam government announced a one-year land revenue waiver for residents in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts. This relief applies from April 1. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the measure during a Facebook Live session. He also promised electricity relief for households consuming up to 300 units in July. The government will cover these costs through the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. Users with prepaid smart meters will receive a credit of up to 300 units. Insurance firms are also simplifying claims for residents in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, and Golaghat.

Assam's floods have killed 82 people statewide. Sivasagar accounts for 42 of those deaths. Nearly 60,000 people remain affected across 160 villages in the district. Residents of Nimaijan and Betbari have fled to safer ground. Many homes, roads, and bridges remain submerged or destroyed.

Nepali Khuti, a dairy village near the Dikhow river, suffered catastrophic losses on July 19. The village lost 1,500 dairy cattle, valued at roughly Rs 15 crore. Seven villagers died there. Nearly 70 of the 150 homes were washed away or ruined. Survivors now navigate thick mud and the stench of decomposing livestock. One resident, Kali Pradhan, described the speed of the disaster: "On July 19, water started entering the area at around 6 am. We went to check, and by 11 am, the water had risen completely. We could not get out and could not even retrieve our belongings."

For the Gorkha families of Nepali Khuti, the loss of their cattle is a fatal blow to their only income source. Personal records, including land deeds and school certificates, are gone. Residents fear disease as carcasses litter the village roads. While the state offers financial relief, the community faces a years-long struggle to rebuild their destroyed livelihoods.