Assam waives post-mortems for flood victims, expedites ex-gratia: CM Sarma
Guwahati, July 28
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday that post-mortem examinations would be waived for people who lose their lives in flood-related incidents, saying the state government would prioritise compassion over procedural formalities during natural disasters.
The Chief Minister also directed officials to ensure that ex-gratia assistance to the next of kin of flood victims is released without avoidable delays.
In a statement posted on social media platform X, Chief Minister Sarma said the state government's response to the ongoing flood crisis must be guided by humanitarian considerations.
"During a crisis, our response must be guided by compassion, not bureaucracy. I have directed that post-mortems be waived off for flood victims to spare families further anguish. Ex-gratia assistance will be released at the earliest, with no avoidable procedural delays," the Chief Minister added.
Officials said the decision is aimed at reducing the hardship faced by bereaved families, who often have to wait for mandatory post-mortem procedures before funeral rites can be performed and compensation claims processed.
The Chief Minister's announcement comes as several districts in Upper Assam continue to grapple with severe flooding caused by incessant rainfall and rising river levels.
Thousands of people have been displaced, while large areas of agricultural land, roads and public infrastructure remain submerged.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), along with district administrations, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies, has been carrying out rescue, evacuation and relief operations in the affected areas.
Relief camps have been opened across the worst-hit districts to provide shelter, food, drinking water and medical assistance to displaced families, while teams continue to distribute essential commodities to marooned villages.
The state government has also directed district administrations to expedite damage assessment and ensure timely assistance to affected households.
Officials added that the administration remains on high alert as water levels in several rivers continue to be closely monitored, with rescue and relief operations being intensified wherever required.
The Chief Minister reiterated that the state government would continue to extend all possible support to flood-affected families and ensure that relief and compensation reach beneficiaries without unnecessary procedural hurdles.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Good decision. As someone who's seen disaster response abroad, cutting bureaucracy during emergencies is key. But I wonder if this will also mean faster compensation for those who lost everything, not just lives. Still, a step in right direction.
This is exactly the kind of leadership we need. Floods take everything, why add more pain with paperwork? My relatives in Dibrugarh are still cut off. Hope relief reaches them fast. 🤞
Impressive humanitarian approach. But I worry about potential misuse—without post-mortems, how will they ensure no foul play is disguised as drowning? Yet, given the massive scale of Assam floods, compassion seems the right call.
Waiving post-mortems for flood victims—now that's a policy with heart! As someone from Assam, I've seen families wait days for bodies to be released during floods. This will let them perform last rites with dignity. Well done, CM! 🇮🇳
It's good they're focusing on compassion, but I hope this isn't just a PR move. The real test will be how fast the ex-gratia reaches people. Let's see if the bureaucracy really speeds up, or if it's just words. Actions speak louder, as they say.
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