Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Gaurav Gogoi on July 23 accused the Assam government of significant delays in providing relief to flood-affected communities, alleging that essential supplies, including food, safe drinking water and sanitation materials, were not reaching those in need on time.
Describing the floods as an “epic humanitarian crisis”, Gogoi urged the state government to present an “honest account” of the flood-related deaths and ensure that relief reaches every affected household without further delay.
“As of today, 41 people have lost their lives, many are missing. Thousands of people are without any homes and lakhs of people are living without dignity,” Gogoi said in a post on X.
The Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha said he had recently visited the worst-affected districts of Jorhat, Sivasagar and Charaideo, where he witnessed the extent of the destruction and what he described as inadequate support from the local administration.
Gogoi alleged that there had been a “severe delay” in the distribution of emergency rations, drinking water, phenyl, clothes and bleaching powder to flood-affected residents.
He also appealed to the Central government to deploy a team of technical experts to assist affected communities in rebuilding damaged homes and restoring agricultural activities disrupted by the floods.
Calling for greater accountability, Gogoi said the state government should immediately disclose the actual number of flood-related deaths and expedite relief distribution across all affected areas.
The Congress leader also praised groups of young volunteers and Gen Z-led initiatives for organising relief drives and providing food to hundreds of affected families each day. He urged Congress workers and office-bearers to extend all possible assistance to flood-hit villages and families across Upper Assam.
