Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday announced that nearly ₹160 crore has been directly credited to the bank accounts of flood-affected families across the state, providing immediate financial relief to 75,000 of the worst-hit households in four flood-ravaged districts. The funds were disbursed via the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism, with each eligible family receiving an interim assistance of ₹15,000.

What the Relief Package Covers

The interim payout of ₹15,000 per household targets families in the four most severely affected districts. Alongside the flood relief, eligible beneficiaries also received the state subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana in the same transfer. Chief Minister Sarma confirmed the disbursement in a post on social media, stating: 'This morning, I transferred the promised interim assistance of ₹15,000 each to nearly 75,000 of the worst-hit households across the four districts, along with the state subsidy under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana to those eligible.'

More Aid on the Way for Sivasagar and Charaideo

Sarma further announced that an additional tranche of ₹10,000 each will be released in the coming days specifically for severely affected families in Sivasagar and Charaideo districts, which bore the brunt of the recent flood spell. The government has clarified that this interim assistance is separate from the final compensation, which will be determined after a comprehensive damage assessment is completed.

Ground Situation: 85 Dead, Over 1.36 Lakh Still Affected

While the flood situation has eased in several parts of Assam, the crisis remains far from resolved. The death toll has climbed to 85, and more than 1.36 lakh people continue to be affected across the state. Over 160 villages remain inundated, with thousands of families still displaced and numerous houses either damaged or submerged. Disaster response agencies are continuing relief, rehabilitation, and damage assessment operations in the affected districts.

Government's Stated Priority

Sarma emphasised that the administration's immediate goal is to place liquidity directly in the hands of affected families. 'Our effort is to place immediate liquidity in the hands of families so they can begin rebuilding without delay, while final compensation is determined through a comprehensive assessment,' he said. The use of the DBT mechanism is intended to eliminate intermediaries and ensure funds reach beneficiaries without procedural lag. Notably, Assam has faced recurring flood crises year after year, and this is among the larger direct-transfer relief operations the state has mounted in recent memory.