2026 Southwest monsoon: Amit Shah approves Rs 2,117.85 cr to support flood-affected states
New Delhi, August 14
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday approved the advance release of Rs 2,117.85 crore from the Central share of the State Disaster Response Fund to support the states affected by floods during the ongoing southwest monsoon of 2026.
Of the total Central assistance, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, and Maharashtra have been sanctioned Rs 44.55 crore, Rs 379.35 crore, Rs 500 crore, and Rs 500 crore, respectively, as advance release of the first instalment for the financial year 2026-27.
"Considering the urgent need for resources and relief measures, the first installments have been released to these four states by relaxing the documentary requirements under the applicable guidelines," said the MHA in a statement.
However, Himachal Pradesh and Odisha have been sanctioned Rs 193.95 crore and Rs 500 crore, respectively, as an advance release of the second instalment of the Central share because they have already received the first instalment of SDRF for 2026-27.
Out of the seven affected states, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Nagaland have already received the first instalment of SDRF for the financial year 2026-27.
In order to ensure timely availability of funds for relief operations, the MHA said the Home Minister approved the advance release of the second instalment of the Central share of SDRF to Himachal Pradesh and Odisha.
The move is part of the Central government's effort to extend all necessary assistance to states for effective relief, rescue, and rehabilitation measures, and will continue to monitor the situation closely.
Since the onset of the monsoon, the MHA said, the Central government has been continuously monitoring the flood situation in close coordination with the state governments. The Central government has extended all possible assistance, including pre-deployment of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams and logistical support from the Ministry of Defence, wherever required.
It said that Inter-Ministerial Central Teams (IMCTs) have already been deputed to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam to assess the damages, and two IMCT visits have been undertaken in Assam in view of the severity of the flood situation.
At the request of the government of Nagaland, the MHA further said that an IMCT is also being constituted for the state.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Finally some proactive action! The monsoons have been brutal this year. Watching the floods in Assam on news, people losing everything. At least the Centre is moving fast. But 500 crore for Gujarat seems low given the scale of damage there. Hope they release more later.
It's good that IMCTs are being sent to assess damage. Transparency is key. But why is Nagaland only getting a team now? They might be facing similar issues. Every state should get equal attention regardless of size or political affiliation.
I appreciate the speed of approval, but this is just a drop in the ocean. Flood relief should include long-term rehabilitation, not just immediate cash. Many families in Odisha have lost their homes and livelihoods. The government needs to think about rebuilding infrastructure too. 🌊
This is the right move - expediting funds during a natural disaster. I've seen how floods affect communities in India firsthand. The NDRF deployment and IMCT assessments show a well-coordinated response. Hopefully other states will get the support they need too.
While the funding is welcome, I wish the government would also focus on flood prevention - better drainage systems, dams, and early warning systems. We keep paying for disasters year after year. Prevention is better than cure, yaar. 😔
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