Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday, 3 July 2026 met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi to submit a detailed field report on the flood and landslide devastation in Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, following a ground assessment he conducted on 30 June and 1 July alongside Union Minister Kiren Rijiju.

Posting in Hindi on X, Chouhan said the natural disaster had deeply disrupted the lives, livelihoods and basic amenities of many families across both states. 'वहाँ निकट से देखा कि किस प्रकार इस आपदा ने अनेक परिवारों के जीवन, आजीविका और बुनियादी सुविधाओं को गहराई से प्रभावित किया है' ('I saw at close quarters how this disaster has deeply affected the lives, livelihoods and basic facilities of many families'), he wrote.

Context

The northeast monsoon season has once again brought severe flooding and landslides to the region. Assam faces recurring annual inundation from the Brahmaputra river system, while Arunachal Pradesh is highly susceptible to monsoon-triggered landslides due to its mountainous terrain. Both states have historically required central intervention for relief and reconstruction during such events.

Chouhan and Rijiju undertook the joint field visit on the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, conducting a first-hand assessment of conditions on the ground before reporting back to the central government.

Policy Backdrop

India's disaster response architecture is anchored in the National Disaster Management Act, 2005, which established the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and defined the legal framework for central-state coordination. The National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) — revised in 2015 and again in 2022 — governs the deployment of an Inter-Ministerial Central Team (IMCT) to conduct scientific damage assessments before central funds are released to affected states.

Both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam have previously received NDRF assistance for monsoon disasters in 2017, 2020, and 2022. The Agriculture Ministry's direct involvement underscores the intersection of disaster relief with rural livelihood recovery, particularly given the damage to agriculture, horticulture, and livestock that accompanies such floods.

Stakeholders and Impact

Chouhan's report to Shah covered losses across multiple sectors: agriculture, horticulture, livestock, housing, roads, bridges, communications, electricity, drinking water, and other public infrastructure. The breadth of the damage assessment reflects the scale of disruption experienced by farming communities and rural households in both states.

Shah reviewed the situation and directed that an IMCT be dispatched promptly to conduct a detailed, scientific assessment of all losses. He also directed that necessary assistance be made available to the affected states without delay. Chouhan stated that the central government stands 'with full commitment' alongside the people of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam in this hour of crisis.

What's Next

The immediate priority is the rapid deployment of the Inter-Ministerial Central Team, whose damage report will determine the quantum of central funds to be released under the NDRF. The IMCT's findings are expected to feed directly into decisions on relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction packages for both states.

Chouhan pledged that every necessary effort for relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction would be advanced at full speed. The pace of the IMCT's assessment and the subsequent release of central funds will be closely watched by state governments and affected communities alike.