Arya News - More than 100,000 severely affected families will receive Rs 15,000 (US$156) each, while special financial assistance and student grants will begin on August 1.
NEW DELHI – Seven people drowned in Assam’s Sivasagar district, pushing the state’s flood death toll to 75 as more than 3.32 lakh residents remained affected across seven districts.
The fresh fatalities prompted the state government to raise assistance for bereaved families to Rs 9 lakh. More than one lakh severely affected households will also receive Rs 15,000 each for immediate needs, while a central team has begun assessing the damage.
Seven drowning deaths reported in Sivasagar
All seven deaths reported on Tuesday occurred in Sivasagar, according to the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System report dated July 28.
Floodwaters continue to affect Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Sonitpur and Kamrup Metropolitan.
The deluge has impacted 3,32,639 people living in 622 villages spread across 21 revenue circles.
Assam announces Rs 9 lakh aid for bereaved families
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced an additional Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for the families of those killed in the floods.
This will be paid over and above the existing Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia, taking the total assistance to Rs 9 lakh.
The government has also waived the requirement for a post-mortem report before compensation is disbursed in flood-related death cases.
Families of people who remain missing for more than 30 days will become eligible for Rs 4 lakh in ex-gratia assistance.
“We will leave no stone unturned to support our people and help them rebuild their lives,” Sarma said in a post on X.
Over one lakh families to receive immediate cash relief
The state will provide Rs 15,000 each to more than one lakh severely affected families to help them meet essential expenses.
The Orunodoi scheme will resume on August 1. Beneficiaries in Charaideo, Jorhat, Golaghat and Sivasagar will receive a special instalment of Rs 2,500 for the month.
The relief package also includes targeted assistance for students whose books, uniforms or academic documents were damaged or lost.
Book grants and free replacement of marksheets
Students in severely affected districts will receive book grants from August 1.
The assistance will range from Rs 1,000 for Higher Secondary students to Rs 5,000 for postgraduate students.
The government will also provide free textbooks and support for school uniforms.
Class X and XII marksheets and certificates lost in the floods will be reissued without charge.
Central team inspects flood damage in Golaghat
A six-member inter-ministerial central team inspected affected areas in Golaghat and met the district administration to assess damage to homes, farmland and infrastructure.
The team was led by a joint secretary from the Union Home Ministry.
Assam Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta said the assessment would form the basis for determining financial assistance from the Centre.
“An inter-ministerial team was sent by the Ministry of Home Affairs from the Central Government. The team, led by the Joint Secretary (Home), assessed the situation and then discussed it. Discussions were held with the district administration. Based on the report, we will receive assistance from the Central Government,” Mahanta said.
The Union Home Ministry had announced that a team would visit Assam from July 25 to assess losses caused by incessant rain and flooding.
Over 45,000 hectares of farmland submerged
Agriculture has suffered extensive damage, with 45,341.98 hectares of cropland still under water.
The Dhansiri South river continued to flow above the danger level at Numaligarh in Golaghat district.
No river had crossed its highest flood level, according to the latest disaster report.
The assessment by the central team will be used alongside reports from the state administration to determine the scale of further assistance required for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.