Assam floods: Death toll rises to 80; state shifts focus to rehabilitation, announces loan relief

Two more deaths in Sivasagar pushed Assam's flood toll to 80 on Friday, even as more than 2.12 lakh people across eight districts continued to grapple with the deluge.The latest figures mark an improvement from the previous day's situation, when the flood toll stood at 78, over 3 lakh people across seven districts were affected, and floodwaters had inundated 551 villages and more than 21,500 hectares of crop area.21 revenue circles and 437 villages remain inundated across Golaghat, Sivasagar, Biswanath, Charaideo, Kamrup (Metropolitan), Jorhat, Dhemaji and Nagaon.

Charaideo remains the worst-hit district with nearly 80,000 affected people, followed by Sivasagar (71,000) and Jorhat (40,000), PTI cites.Floodwaters have also caused extensive damage to embankments, roads, bridges and other public infrastructure.Rescue teams continue relief operationsAccording to the recent data shared by the government, relief operations are continuing across Assam, with 216 relief camps and 1,788 relief distribution centres supporting flood-affected communities.

The camps are currently sheltering 71,416 people, while authorities continue to provide food, drinking water, medicines and other essential supplies. Sarma said rehabilitation efforts remain the government's top priority as floodwaters recede.The Army, NDRF, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, police and civil administration remain engaged in rescue and relief efforts.In an X post, CM Himanta wrote, "Our teams are working 24*7 while we are formulating policies to directly benefit the affected."With floodwaters receding, Sarma said the administration has expanded relief work to include debris clearance, doorstep healthcare, disposal of animal carcasses, disinfection drives, restoration of electricity and other essential services.Government announces loan relief packageChief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday also announced a six-month moratorium on repayment of loans availed by flood-affected people in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat and Golaghat districts.

The decision was taken at a special meeting of the State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC), attended by representatives of the RBI, NABARD, SBI and other commercial banks.Banks have also agreed to extend loan tenures by one to seven years, depending on the type of loan, he informed. The Assam government has sought a special relief package from the Centre and urged the Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to classify the Upper Assam floods as an "atypical, high-intensity, rapid-onset event" for more flexible relief norms.Meanwhile, Assam ministers flagged off 30 trucks carrying food, clothing and other essential supplies for flood-hit districts.Assam minister Atul Bora, talking to ANI, said the government was continuing relief operations on a war footing and highlighted the Rs 15,000 financial assistance announced for each affected family, in addition to food supplies and other necessities.Cloudburst triggered unprecedented flooding: CMEarlier, chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had attributed the devastating floods to an intense cloudburst in the upstream states of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.In a post on X on July 22, he said Arunachal Pradesh received 141% above-normal rainfall, while Nagaland recorded 181% above-normal precipitation, resulting in an unprecedented discharge of floodwaters into Assam.Sarma said the sudden surge inundated several districts that had witnessed little or no flooding in recent history.Get the latest India News and Live updates.

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