Assam flood: Death toll climbs to six; over 7.2 lakh affected in 11 districts
Guwahati, July 24
Floodwaters continued to affect large parts of Assam, with 11 districts remaining inundated and more than 7.21 lakh people impacted, while the death toll in the current wave of floods stood at six, officials said on Friday.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the flood-hit districts are Golaghat, Hojai, Kamrup, Charaideo, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Sivasagar, Nagaon, Kamrup (Metro), Karbi Anglong and Tinsukia.
A total of 37 revenue circles and 883 villages have been affected, while floodwaters have submerged 25,375.44 hectares of crop area, causing extensive agricultural losses.
Officials said Sivasagar remains the worst-hit district, accounting for 3,75,682 affected people, followed by Charaideo with 1,86,351 and Jorhat with 1,15,764 people affected.
The ASDMA said six flood-related deaths have been reported so far, including four in Sivasagar and two in Charaideo.
No missing persons were reported in the latest flood bulletin.
Apart from the rural flood situation, urban flooding has also affected Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan and Dibrugarh districts.
Officials said five revenue circles and 17 localities or wards were affected, impacting 592 people.
Urban inundation has disrupted normal life in several low-lying areas.
Authorities have opened relief facilities across the affected districts, with 103 relief camps and 255 relief distribution centres currently operational.
More than 24,000 people are staying in relief camps, while over 2.39 lakh people have received assistance through relief distribution centres.
Rescue operations involving the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Fire and Emergency Services, district authorities and local volunteers continued in the worst-hit districts.
Officials said 4,455 people have been evacuated by boats during the ongoing rescue efforts.
Meanwhile, the Central Water Commission reported that several rivers, including the Burhidihing, Disang, Dikhow, Dhansiri (South) and Kushiyara, were flowing above the danger level, keeping authorities on high alert across the affected regions.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is heartbreaking. I visited Assam last year and the people there are so resilient, but even they can't keep up with this annual devastation. The fact that rivers are still above danger level is worrying. Hope the Army and NDRF can reach everyone in time. Thoughts with all affected families.
We talk about development but what about the people in Sivasagar and Charaideo who have lost everything? Over 3.75 lakh affected in Sivasagar alone! And urban flooding in Kamrup and Dibrugarh shows no area is safe. The 24,000 people in relief camps need our support – let's contribute to relief funds if we can. 😢
While rescue ops are ongoing, I'm concerned about the lack of long-term planning. Every year millions are spent on relief but little is done on flood management. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries need dredging and better river management. Also, urban flooding in cities like Guwahati shows our drainage systems are pathetic. Time for a comprehensive flood action plan!
Salute to the NDRF, SDRF, Army, and local volunteers who evacuated 4,455 people by boat in such dangerous conditions. Also grateful that no one is missing this time. But let's not forget – Assam has been flood-prone for decades, yet we never see state or center take climate adaptation seriously. This is not just a disaster, it's a failure of policy.
Really sad to see this. As someone from Assam, I
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.