Guwahati | All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) president Badruddin Ajmal on Saturday urged the Centre to declare the ongoing floods in Assam a national calamity and sanction a ?10,000 crore relief and rehabilitation package, saying the scale of devastation required urgent and coordinated intervention.

After visiting several flood-hit areas, Ajmal described the situation as one of the gravest humanitarian crises the state has witnessed in recent years. He said thousands of families were facing hunger, displacement, and acute shortages of food, safe drinking water, and sanitation facilities.

The AIUDF chief said he witnessed widespread distress during his tour, with many flood-affected residents still awaiting adequate government assistance.

Ajmal also praised local communities for extending support to those displaced by the floods. He thanked members of both the Hindu and Muslim communities for opening their homes and providing food and shelter to stranded families, describing their response as a reflection of communal harmony and humanity in times of crisis.

Claiming that he had spent nearly ?2.5 crore on relief work, Ajmal alleged that government assistance had failed to reach many victims. He called for an independent inquiry into the distribution of relief materials and financial aid to ensure assistance reaches the intended beneficiaries.

Highlighting conditions in relief camps, Ajmal said women were facing severe hardships due to inadequate sanitation facilities. He announced plans to distribute one lakh one-litre bottles of drinking water and arrange 10,000 temporary toilets for women in flood-affected areas to address immediate needs.

The AIUDF leader also expressed concern over the impact of the floods on school-going children, saying many had remained without food for days while their education had been severely disrupted. He appealed to the Centre, the Assam government, and the Education Department to provide textbooks, notebooks, pencils, and other learning materials to help students resume their studies once the floodwaters recede.

Ajmal further announced financial assistance for damaged Namghars, flood-affected journalists, and families whose homes had been fully or partially damaged. He said the aid would be disbursed after verification of claims.

Recalling an incident from his visit, Ajmal said he met a former athlete who had once received a prestigious national honour but was now struggling to meet basic needs after being affected by the floods. He said he had provided immediate financial assistance of ?1 lakh and pledged a monthly support of ?10,000. He added that he would raise the matter with the Prime Minister and the President, seeking official recognition and long-term government support for the sportsperson.

Reiterating that the scale of destruction had overwhelmed affected communities, Ajmal called on both the Centre and the Assam government to intensify relief and rehabilitation efforts, stressing that sustained financial assistance and swift implementation of rehabilitation measures were essential to help flood-hit families rebuild their lives.