Assam CM Himanta orders police crackdown on unauthorised flood relief drives
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma has ordered police to crack down on roadside flood relief collections — targeting donation boxes and QR codes at intersections — amid concerns over fund transparency. With lakhs already affected by flooding, the state wants all donations routed through authorised channels, raising the stakes for how public generosity is governed during a crisis.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on 6 August directed the Assam Police to crack down on unauthorised flood relief collection drives on public roads.
Individuals using donation boxes, QR codes, or stopping vehicles at intersections without permission face strict legal action .
Instructions have already been issued to police to immediately halt such drives statewide.
The state government has urged citizens to donate only through authorised government channels or recognised organisations.
Assam has been hit by widespread flooding in recent weeks, affecting lakhs of people across multiple districts, with relief operations ongoing.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, 6 August directed the Assam Police to launch a statewide crackdown on unauthorised flood relief collection drives on public roads, warning of strict legal action against individuals or organisations soliciting money in the name of flood victims without official permission.
What the Order Covers
Sarma made clear that no person or group will be permitted to stop vehicles, carry donation boxes, or display QR codes at traffic intersections and other public locations to collect funds. Speaking to reporters in Guwahati, he said the practice creates public inconvenience and raises serious questions about the transparency and end-use of the money collected.
'Nobody will be allowed to collect money on public roads in the name of flood relief. Strict action will be taken against anyone found engaging in such unauthorised fundraising activities,' Sarma said.
Instructions Already Issued to Police
According to the Chief Minister, directives have already been conveyed to the Assam Police to immediately halt such collection drives wherever they are spotted across the state. Individuals standing on roadsides with donation boxes or soliciting contributions via QR codes from motorists and pedestrians will face legal consequences, he added.
The order follows reports that several individuals and groups had been collecting money at road junctions and busy public locations, claiming the funds would be channelled toward flood relief and rehabilitation efforts.
Government's Appeal to Citizens
The state government has urged citizens to exercise caution before donating and to contribute only through authorised government channels or recognised organisations, so that financial assistance reaches genuine flood-affected families. Sarma reiterated that public support for flood victims is welcome, but fundraising must remain transparent, accountable, and within the framework of the law.
Flood Situation in Assam
Assam has witnessed widespread flooding in recent weeks following heavy rainfall across the state and upstream catchment areas, affecting lakhs of people across multiple districts. Relief and rehabilitation operations are currently underway, supported by the state administration, disaster response agencies, and various recognised organisations. This comes amid a broader pattern of annual flood devastation in the Brahmaputra basin that has long strained state resources and tested the reach of official relief machinery.
With the crackdown now in effect, authorities are expected to step up surveillance at busy intersections and public gathering points to enforce the directive.
Point of View
But it also exposes a governance gap: when official relief is perceived as slow or inadequate, informal roadside collections fill the void. Sarma's order addresses the symptom — opaque fundraising — without directly confronting the underlying trust deficit in state relief delivery. The real accountability question is whether authorised channels are reaching flood-affected families faster and more transparently than the roadside collectors they are now replacing. If not, the ban risks being seen as protecting the state's monopoly on relief rather than protecting flood victims.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has the Assam government banned roadside flood relief collections?
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered the ban because unauthorised collections at road junctions and intersections create public inconvenience and raise concerns about the transparency of funds collected. The government wants all donations routed through verified channels to ensure money reaches genuine flood-affected families.
What activities are prohibited under the new order?
Stopping vehicles on roads, carrying donation boxes, and displaying QR codes at traffic intersections or other public places to solicit flood relief funds are all prohibited without official permission. Violators face legal action under the directive issued to the Assam Police.
Where should citizens donate for Assam flood relief?
The state government has urged citizens to contribute only through authorised government channels or recognised organisations. Donations made through these verified routes are more likely to reach genuine flood-affected families, according to the government.
How severe is the flood situation in Assam currently?
Assam has experienced widespread flooding in recent weeks due to heavy rainfall across the state and upstream catchment areas, affecting lakhs of people in multiple districts. Relief and rehabilitation operations are underway with support from the state administration and disaster response agencies.
What action will police take against unauthorised collectors?
The Assam Police have been instructed to immediately stop unauthorised collection drives wherever they are spotted. Individuals found soliciting donations via roadside boxes or QR codes without permission will face strict legal consequences, as stated by CM Sarma.
