Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

Guwahati, Jul 24: The Central government will dispatch a high-level team to Assam to assess the damage caused by the ongoing floods and determine the extent of financial assistance required for relief and rehabilitation, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Friday.

The Union Minister said the Centre has assured the Assam government of all possible support as the state battles one of its worst flood spells, which has affected more than 7.42 lakh people across 11 districts.

Expressing sorrow over the loss of lives, Sonowal conveyed his condolences to the bereaved families and said rescue agencies were continuing search operations for those still reported missing.

“The Centre and the Assam government stand firmly with every citizen affected by the floods. We mourn the lives lost and pray for the safety of those who are still missing,” he said in a statement.

Sonowal said the flood situation in Assam was reviewed during the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, where the Centre reaffirmed its commitment to extending all necessary assistance for relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction.

He added that the Union government has remained in constant contact with the Assam administration since the onset of the floods and has assured Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma of every possible help.

According to the Minister, a multidisciplinary team comprising officials from various Central ministries will soon visit the flood-affected regions to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage.

The team will interact with the state government and local authorities before submitting its findings to the Centre, based on which additional financial assistance will be provided for relief operations, rehabilitation of affected families and restoration of damaged infrastructure.

Sonowal also praised the Assam government's response to the crisis, saying ministers, Members of Parliament, legislators, panchayat representatives and district administrations have been working in close coordination to ensure timely rescue and relief measures.

He noted that the floods have inundated more than 2,000 villages, forcing thousands of people to seek shelter in hundreds of relief camps established across the state.

Relief and rescue operations are currently underway in Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Golaghat, Hojai, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Dibrugarh, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Tinsukia districts.

Appealing for wider public participation, Sonowal urged social organisations, voluntary groups and citizens across the country to extend support to those affected by the floods.

“This is a time for compassion, collective responsibility and solidarity. Together, we can help the people of Assam recover from this disaster, and the Central government will continue to provide every possible assistance for relief, rehabilitation and rebuilding efforts,” he said.