"It still catches us off guard": Alia Bhatt voices concerns for flood-affected Assam, appeals for immediate relief
Mumbai, July 29
As Assam continues to be battered by extreme flood conditions, Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt has expressed her concerns over the devastation.
Highlighting the scale of the tragedy, Alia wrote, "Right now, floods are affecting so many parts of our country, with Assam being among the hardest hit, facing an incredibly challenging time. More than 60 lives have been lost. Lakhs of people have been displaced. Entire families have lost their homes, their land, their livestock... and for some, even the people they love."
Alia stressed how the floods continue to recur every year, further urging the need of immediate assistance and sustained support for recovery.
"It happens every year, and it still catches us off guard. Assam needs immediate relief right now, and it'll need support for the long road to recovery," she added.
The actor also said that she would share ways for people to contribute to Assam.
The floods have impacted a population of 3,32,639 across 622 villages in 21 revenue circles of Assam. The death toll in the devastating floods has climbed to 75, with seven more fatalities reported from Sivasagar district on Tuesday.
Following the surge in fatalities, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a major relief package for the affected population.
In a post on X, CM Sarma said, "We will leave no stone unturned to support our people and help them rebuild their lives.
"Under the new relief measures, the state government has waived the post-mortem requirement for the disbursement of Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia in flood-related deaths." In a significant move, the Chief Minister announced an additional Rs 5 lakh from the CM Relief Fund for the families of the deceased, bringing the total assistance to Rs 9 lakh. Families of persons missing for over 30 days will also be eligible for Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia."
According to the DRIMS report, the agricultural sector has taken a massive hit with 45,341.98 hectares of crop area currently submerged. The Dhansiri River at Numaligarh is reported to be flowing above the danger level.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Alia Bhatt speaking up is great, but I wish she'd also push for long-term solutions like better drainage, embankments, and flood management in Brahmaputra basin. Temporary relief is good, but let's not forget that climate change is making this worse every year. The Assam government should also think about resettlement for vulnerable communities.
It's heartbreaking to hear about the loss of 75 lives and lakhs of people displaced. Alia using her platform for this cause is commendable. I'm from the UK but have family in Assam, and they're terrified each monsoon. The international community should also step in with aid and expertise for climate resilience.
"It catches us off guard" — exactly, because we never learn. 😢 The Brahmaputra floods are annual, but governments keep building on floodplains. And why is post-mortem needed for ex-gratia? That's just cruel for grieving families. CM Sarma's waiver is welcome, but why was it ever required? District officials need to be more humane.
Alia Bhatt is right to speak up, and the Assam government's relief package of ₹9 lakh per family is substantial. But I hope they have a transparent system for distribution. The submerged crop area is massive — 45,000 hectares! Farmers will need loan waivers and seeds for next season. Also, let's not forget flood insurance for agricultural land.
Kudos to Alia for highlighting Assam's plight. I've donated to relief funds, but I wish there was more coordination between NGOs and government. The
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