Assam Govt Releases ₹75,000 Relief to Flood-Hit Families as Toll Climbs to 85

The Assam government on Monday released the first tranche of interim relief of ₹75,000 each to households affected by the devastating floods in the State, officials said. The assistance is aimed at providing immediate support to families whose homes have suffered severe damage in the current wave of deluge.

According to official figures, the death toll in Upper Assam rose to 85 after three more fatalities were reported on Sunday. Meanwhile, the number of affected people has declined to approximately 1.35 lakh, providing some respite to the relief machinery even as several districts remain submerged.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who is touring the worst-hit areas, released the first tranche of relief from Dibrugarh. The disbursement is part of a broader package that includes multiple benefits for affected families.

Under the first tranche, families with severely damaged houses in Sivasagar, Chariadeo, Jorhat and Golaghat districts will receive ₹15,000 per household. This is in addition to other benefits, taking the total interim relief to ₹75,000 per household, officials explained.

The relief amount is being distributed through the government's established mechanisms, with priority given to families whose homes have been fully or partially destroyed. Officials said that the assistance forms part of a comprehensive package aimed at addressing both immediate needs and longer-term rehabilitation. Since the payment is described as the first tranche, further installments are expected to follow after a detailed damage assessment.

Mr. Sarma is scheduled to visit parts of Sivasagar district during the day to oversee relief and rehabilitation operations and interact with affected residents. Sivasagar remains one of the most affected districts in the current spell of floods in the northeastern State.

The latest fatalities were reported from Sivasagar, underscoring the continuing risk in the region. As per State disaster management authorities, a total of 1,36,200 people across Charaideo, Dhemaji, Golaghat, Jorhat and Sivasagar districts are still affected by the deluge.

Just a day earlier, on Saturday, nearly 1.8 lakh people had been affected across the five districts. Sivasagar accounts for the highest number of affected people at over 55,000, followed by Charaideo with 40,000 and Jorhat with 22,000.

The administration is currently running 54 relief camps and distribution centres across the five districts, providing shelter and essentials to 13,771 people.

In addition to damage to homes and displacement, the floods have submerged farmlands spanning 15,422 hectares in the affected districts, raising concerns for agricultural livelihoods. The Dhansiri River was reported to be flowing above the danger level at Numaligarh in Golaghat district, officials said.

Assam, which experiences annual floods during the monsoon season, has faced a particularly severe situation this year in its upper districts. The State government has mobilised resources for rescue, relief and rehabilitation, with officials working to ensure timely assistance reaches those in need. As the waters begin to recede in some areas, the focus is shifting towards assessing the full extent of the damage and planning long-term recovery measures.

Assam's flood crisis is a recurring phenomenon, and this year's devastation in the upper districts underscores the need for robust disaster management systems. The State government has mobilised rescue and relief efforts across the affected regions, and officials said that additional support will be provided as the situation evolves. For now, the immediate priority is to ensure that displaced families receive shelter, food, and medical care, while the administration begins the task of damage assessment.