India News

Assam floods: Nearly 97,000 families receive Rs. 15,000 aid, more relief in pipeline

Assam has provided Rs. 15,000 each to 96,842 flood-affected families, while a detailed survey is underway to assess damage and determine further compensation.

Published

3 weeks ago

August 17, 2026

APNLive Desk

Assam has provided one-time financial assistance of Rs. 15,000 each to 96,842 flood-affected families, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday as the state began a detailed assessment of damage caused by the floods.

Sarma announced the figures at a press conference at the Media Hall of Lok Sewa Bhawan in Dispur after financial assistance was released to another 31,991 families across four affected districts.

The state government has spent Rs. 146.26 crore on the assistance distributed so far. Sarma said the beneficiary list was still being prepared and around 3,000 additional families could receive assistance in the next phase.

“We want the affected families to have some cash in hand when they return home after the flood. This assistance is meant to help them settle back and meet their immediate needs,” Sarma said.

Assam begins detailed flood damage assessment

The state government has now shifted its focus to assessing the extent of the damage caused by the floods. A rapid survey is being conducted across affected areas with the assistance of 1,144 teachers.

Preliminary findings show that 26,681 houses and 18,887 cattle sheds have been damaged. Losses involving handloom-related raw materials have also been reported.

The assessment has so far covered around 5.98 lakh pets and domestic animals. Meanwhile, the survey of agricultural and fisheries losses is still underway.

Officials have identified 99,256 farmers who have suffered crop or other agriculture-related losses.

Sarma said the first phase of the survey is expected to be completed by August 28 or 29. The findings will subsequently be uploaded to a web portal, where affected residents will be able to check the information recorded against their names.

The portal will also allow people to raise objections if they have been excluded from the beneficiary list or if the damage recorded does not reflect their actual losses.

Second verification round planned in September

The government plans to begin a second round of verification around September 1 or 2. The process is expected to continue until September 10 or 11, with the revised list likely to be made public around September 15 or 16.

Sarma said unresolved complaints could lead to another field verification.

“If there is a complaint for the third consecutive time, we are ready to conduct a third survey. Our aim is to complete the survey and provide financial assistance by October 9 or 10,” he said.

If another verification round is not required, the government expects to complete the process by the end of September, he added.

The damage recorded on the assessment portal has so far been estimated at around Rs. 480 crore for houses and other properties. The figure, however, is expected to change as the survey progresses.

Rehabilitation plans for worst-hit areas

The Assam government is also considering longer-term rehabilitation measures for some of the worst-affected areas in Sivasagar and Charaideo.

Sarma said the state government had discussed the possibility of providing houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana to eligible families in the two districts with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“We are trying not just to provide immediate relief but to give a strong and lasting solution to the affected people,” Sarma said.

Restoration work has begun at several damaged schools, roads, naamghars and health facilities. Health and veterinary teams are also continuing camps in flood-affected areas.

Ex-gratia, loan moratorium and insurance claims

The government is separately working on ex-gratia payments of Rs. 9 lakh to the next of kin of people who died in the floods, Sarma said.

On financial relief for borrowers, he said 1,712 affected people had so far applied for a moratorium on bank loans. Eligible borrowers have been asked to submit their applications by August 31.

“There are still many people who have not applied for the moratorium. I appeal to all affected people who are eligible to apply before August 31,” he said.

Insurance claims are also being processed. According to the Chief Minister, 1,598 claims have been received so far, of which 170 have already been settled and the payments released.

Sarma urged flood-affected people with insurance coverage to approach their respective insurance companies and submit claims for losses suffered during the floods.

The immediate priority, according to the Chief Minister, is to complete the damage assessment, give affected people an opportunity to challenge the findings and finish the compensation process for eligible families.

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3 dead, several trapped after six-storey building collapses in Delhi, rescue operations continue

Three people died and two were critically injured after a six-storey PG building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan. Several others are feared trapped.

Published

38 mins ago

September 6, 2026

APNLive Desk

Three people have died and two others are critically injured after a six-storey building collapsed in Delhi’s Satya Niketan on Sunday afternoon. Several more people are feared trapped under the debris as rescue operations continue at the site.

Nine people have been rescued so far, while authorities are searching for others who may still be trapped. The building, which was being used as a 75-bed paying guest accommodation, collapsed at around 1:30 pm, according to officials.

Building was being used as a PG accommodation

According to police, the building was around 40 to 50 years old and consisted of a basement and five upper floors. It was being used as a paying guest accommodation, with repair work reportedly underway in the basement when the collapse occurred.

The building was located in Satya Niketan, near Delhi University’s South Campus, an area with a large student population.

An eyewitness said at least 50 students were believed to have been inside the building when it collapsed. A student at the scene also reported hearing cries for help from beneath the rubble.

Rescue operation underway

Teams from the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force, Delhi Fire Service and Delhi Disaster Management Authority have been deployed for the rescue operation.

At least 12 fire tenders have been sent to the spot. An excavator has also been deployed, while additional machinery is being brought in to remove concrete slabs and girders from the debris.

Locals were also seen helping with the initial search before rescue teams and machinery reached the site.

The adjacent building has been vacated as a precautionary measure, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said. She added that rescue work was being carried out on a war footing and that authorities were coordinating efforts to assist those affected.

Government agencies coordinate rescue efforts

Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu said concerned agencies, including the Delhi Police, Delhi Fire Service and DDMA, had been directed to work together to ensure swift rescue operations.

Local BJP MLA Anil Sharma, who was at the site, said some students were still believed to be trapped and that some were reportedly making calls from inside the collapsed structure.

AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj blamed alleged corruption for the incident and raised questions about building safety and inspections. His comments were political allegations and no official cause for the collapse has been established in the report.

India News

PM Modi takes aim at critics with Dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC centenary address

PM Modi revived his dimagi Naxal remark at SRCC’s centenary celebrations and spoke about India’s development journey.

Published

9 hours ago

September 6, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi revived his ‘dimagi Naxal’ remark while addressing the centenary celebrations of Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) in Delhi on Saturday, using the term to criticise his opponents.

Speaking to students at the Delhi college, PM Modi described the phrase as a “homeopathic pill” and said it had prompted those he described as “dimagi Naxals” to come forward and reveal their views.

The prime minister also used his address to speak to Gen-Z about India’s development journey and asked students to consider the challenges the country had faced in the past.

PM Modi recalls past crises

During his speech, PM Modi referred to the 2013 Kedarnath disaster and the 2008 global financial crisis while criticising the handling of national emergencies by previous governments.

He said the government at the time of the Kedarnath disaster was shaken and questioned its ability to respond to the crisis.

Referring to the 2008 banking crisis, PM Modi alleged that the government of the time failed to effectively deal with the situation and claimed that India’s banking system was pushed close to collapse.

Prime minister lists challenges faced by his government

PM Modi also highlighted several major global crises that occurred during his government’s tenure.

He mentioned the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, disruptions to global trade and supply chains, and the crisis in West Asia.

The prime minister said there had been concerns that India would struggle during these crises but argued that the country had continued to move forward.

PM Modi’s earlier SRCC visit

PM Modi had earlier visited SRCC in 2013, when he was the chief minister of Gujarat. His speech at the college received significant attention, particularly on social media, ahead of the 2014 Lok Sabha election.

His latest visit came during the college’s centenary celebrations, where his address focused on young people, India’s development ambitions and the challenges faced by the country.

India News

India Metro Rail Network May Overtake US in 2 Years

India’s metro rail network has reached 1,170 km across 26 cities. Union minister Manohar Lal said the country could overtake the US in network length within two years.

Published

23 hours ago

September 5, 2026

APNLive Desk

India is on track to become the country with the second-largest metro rail network in the world after China, with Union Minister Manohar Lal saying the country could overtake the United States within the next two years.

India’s metro rail network has now expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities. The network is only 216 km shorter than the US metro rail network, which stands at 1,386 km, according to figures cited by the minister.

India’s metro network expands rapidly

Speaking after the inauguration of an extended metro service in Indore, Manohar Lal highlighted the pace at which metro connectivity has grown in India.

He said metro services were operational across just 245 km in five cities when Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office in 2014. The network has since expanded to 1,170 km across 26 cities.

The minister said India could overtake the US in terms of metro rail network length in the next two years and become the world’s second-largest country in this segment after China.

China currently has around 8,000 km of metro rail lines, according to the figures cited by the minister.

Indore metro extension inaugurated

The minister made the remarks after inaugurating an extended section of the Indore metro. The project was built at a cost of around Rs 2,850 crore.

The Indore metro was earlier operating commercially on a six-km stretch between Gandhi Nagar and Super Corridor-3 stations. Following the extension, the service will operate on a 17-km route between Gandhi Nagar and Malviya Nagar Chauraha.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said the metro service would mark a new phase in Indore’s development. He also said the network would eventually be extended to Ujjain and other nearby areas.