Death Toll from Assam Floods Climbs to 75 as Disaster Relief Efforts Intensify

The tragic toll from the ongoing flood crisis in Assam has escalated to 75, with the most recent fatalities reported in the Sivasagar district. The state’s disaster management authority confirmed these new deaths on Tuesday, highlighting the dire situation faced by many families in the region.

In response to the growing humanitarian crisis, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has announced an increase in the ex gratia compensation for the families of those who have lost their lives. The compensation amount will rise from Rs 4 lakh to Rs 9 lakh, with an additional Rs 5 lakh being disbursed from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to aid the affected families. The Chief Minister also emphasized that families will no longer be required to submit a post-mortem report to access this compensation; instead, a simple certificate from the local circle officer will suffice.

For those individuals reported as missing, families will be eligible for the same Rs 9 lakh in ex gratia assistance if the body is not recovered within a month. The current flooding has severely affected several districts; Charaideo has emerged as the most impacted area, with approximately 1.4 lakh residents affected. Sivasagar and Jorhat follow closely, with 97,074 and 57,371 individuals affected, respectively.

As the floods persist, about 45,342 hectares of agricultural land have been submerged, jeopardizing the livelihoods of many farmers. Currently, 622 villages are grappling with the effects of the deluge, and the Dhansiri river in Numaligarh district remains above the danger threshold, raising concerns about further flooding.

Relief efforts are underway, with 81 operational relief camps providing shelter for approximately 32,477 displaced individuals. Furthermore, 34 relief distribution centers are actively supplying essentials and assistance across the afflicted regions. The government continues to monitor the situation closely and deploys resources to mitigate the impact of this natural disaster on the local population.

Source: scroll.in