Gaurav Gogoi, Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and MP from Jorhat, has demanded that the central government announce a special Rs 10,000-crore flood relief and rehabilitation package for Assam. The state is currently reeling from devastating floods that have caused widespread destruction across the region.
In a formal letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Gogoi highlighted the unprecedented destruction caused by the floods, particularly in Upper Assam’s Jorhat, Sivasagar, and Charaideo districts. He pointed out that over 100 people have lost their lives, and several others remain missing, while thousands of houses have been destroyed, rendering lakhs of people homeless.
The MP also expressed concern over the extensive damage to agricultural lands and standing crops, as well as the large-scale loss of livestock. Furthermore, key public infrastructure, including schools, roads, bridges, and embankments, has been washed away or rendered unusable, cutting off connectivity and hindering relief and rehabilitation operations.
Gogoi also criticized the PM CARES Fund for failing to assist the state during this crisis. He noted that the fund has a massive corpus of Rs 8,452 crore, but nearly 93 percent of it remains parked in fixed deposits, with only Rs 87.85 lakh spent during the 2024-25 financial year.
The MP urged the Prime Minister to sanction the Rs 10,000-crore special package without delay to cover the economic losses, rebuild critical rural infrastructure, and provide essential relief to affected farmers, traders, and homeless families. Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma met with Prime Minister Modi to discuss the state’s flood recovery efforts and development agenda.
During the meeting, the chief minister briefed the Prime Minister on the state’s roadmap for the next phase of the flood response, focusing on rebuilding affected areas, restoring livelihoods, and ensuring comprehensive recovery. The Prime Minister reaffirmed the Government of India’s support in taking this mission to its logical conclusion.
The meeting also covered the state government’s broader development priorities and its efforts to accelerate growth, strengthen infrastructure, improve public service delivery, and create greater opportunities for the people of Assam.
