Assam Flood Crisis Deepens: Death Toll Rises to 75, Over 3.3 Lakh People Affected

Assam, July 29 : The flood situation in Assam remained critical on Wednesday as seven more deaths were reported in the past 24 hours, pushing the overall death toll from this year’s deluge to 75. Although the number of affected people has declined, more than 3.32 lakh residents across the state continue to face the impact of severe flooding, officials said.

The state government has enhanced the financial assistance provided to families who lost loved ones in the floods. The ex gratia compensation has been increased to Rs 9 lakh per deceased victim, while procedures for claiming the relief amount have also been simplified.

Seven Districts Continue to Battle Floodwaters

According to officials, floodwaters continue to affect seven districts of Assam, including Sivasagar, Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, Sonitpur and Kamrup Metropolitan. The disaster has impacted 21 revenue circles and 622 villages across these areas.

Charaideo remains the worst affected district, with around 1.42 lakh people facing flood related hardships. It is followed by Sivasagar, where 97,074 people have been affected, and Jorhat, with 57,371 residents impacted by the rising waters.

The seven deaths reported on Tuesday occurred in the Nazira revenue circle of Sivasagar district, officials confirmed.

The number of flood-affected people has shown a decline compared with Monday, when six districts reported around 4.45 lakh affected residents.

Relief Camps Shelter Thousands of Displaced People

Relief and rescue efforts have been intensified across the flood hit regions. A total of 81 relief camps are currently operational, providing shelter to 32,477 displaced people. Additionally, 34 relief distribution centres have been set up to ensure essential supplies reach affected families.

Several agencies, including the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services personnel, and local volunteers, are engaged in rescue and relief operations.

Thousands of Hectares of Farmland Submerged

The floods have caused extensive damage to agriculture and infrastructure across Assam. Officials said nearly 45,341.98 hectares of crop land have been submerged due to the continuing rainfall and overflowing rivers.

Apart from agricultural losses, damage has also been reported to residential houses, cattle sheds, schools, anganwadi centres and other public infrastructure in several affected districts.

Mobile Connectivity Support Extended in Flood Areas

To help residents maintain communication during the crisis, authorities have extended the Intra Circle Roaming (ICR) facility in flood-hit areas of Sivasagar until 11:59 PM on July 30 or until further orders.

The facility allows subscribers to access available mobile networks of other telecom operators if their own service provider’s network is unavailable, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity during emergencies.

Government Announces Additional Financial Assistance

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced additional support measures for families affected by the floods. He said the government has relaxed the requirement of submitting post mortem reports for claiming compensation in flood related deaths.

A certificate issued by the concerned circle officer will now be sufficient to process the financial assistance.

The Chief Minister said families of deceased victims will receive Rs 4 lakh as government compensation along with an additional Rs 5 lakh from the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, taking the total assistance to Rs 9 lakh.

For cases involving missing persons, families will also be eligible for the same compensation if the bodies are not recovered within one month. The circle officer will have the authority to issue the required certificate in such cases.

Special Assistance for Worst-Hit Districts and Students

Families severely affected in the four worst hit districts Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat  will receive interim financial assistance of Rs 15,000 to meet immediate household requirements, the Chief Minister said.

The Assam government has also announced educational support for students affected by the floods. Students from Sivasagar and Charaideo districts will receive assistance for free uniforms and textbooks, while higher secondary, undergraduate and postgraduate students will be provided financial aid for purchasing books.

Focus on Children in Relief Camps

The Chief Minister highlighted that special attention is being given to children staying in relief camps. He said dedicated learning and recreational spaces are being created to ensure that the flood situation does not disrupt their education and childhood.

Sharing pictures of children participating in activities at relief camps, Sarma said creating a supportive environment for young residents remains a priority during the ongoing crisis.

Rescue Operations Continue as Assam Battles Flood Impact

With thousands of families still affected, authorities are continuing relief measures across Assam. Rescue teams, government agencies and volunteers remain engaged in providing emergency assistance, restoring connectivity and supporting communities affected by one of the state’s major flood events this year.