Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday visited the flood-ravaged Sonari subdivision in Charaideo district to review the ground situation as severe flooding continued to disrupt normal life across several parts of Upper Assam.
During the visit, the Chief Minister toured inundated villages, met families sheltered in relief camps and held discussions with district officials on the progress of rescue, relief and rehabilitation operations. He also reviewed the logistical challenges being faced by rescue agencies in reaching marooned residents in remote and inaccessible areas.
Speaking to reporters, Sarma termed the ongoing floods an "unprecedented" disaster and said the magnitude of devastation was much higher than initially anticipated. "The situation is unprecedented. A large number of people have been forced to take shelter in relief camps, while many others are still stranded in flood-affected areas. We have witnessed several deaths and recovery operations are still continuing," he said.
The Chief Minister said personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), the Indian Army, Assam Police and district administrations are working round the clock to rescue stranded people and provide relief to affected families.
Highlighting the Centre's role in disaster management, Sarma said the state receives full financial support from the Union government for flood relief operations. "The entire disaster relief fund available with the state government is provided by the Central Government. The Centre bears the expenditure for rescue and relief activities, and if additional resources are required, we will approach the Prime Minister for further assistance," he said.
He added that the Union government releases disaster management funds in advance and additional allocations can be sought depending on the severity of the situation. Expressing concern over the evolving flood crisis, Sarma said many people were still trapped in submerged areas, and the full extent of the damage was yet to be assessed. The Chief Minister's visit came as the flood situation remained grim in Assam.
According to the latest update shared by the state government, floods betwee April 29 and July 21 have affected 7,27,506 people across 25 districts. The disaster has claimed 31 lives so far, while 95 relief camps are housing 18,574 displaced people. Rescue and relief operations are continuing across the worst-hit districts.