More than 1,400 died in natural disasters in last 10 years: Assam Minister Keshab Mahanta
Guwahati, July 11
A total of 1,476 people have lost their lives due to floods, landslides, storms, and lightning in the state between 2016 and 2025, according to the data of the Assam Government.
Replying to a query of Congress MLA Rekibuddin Ahmed in the state assembly, Assam Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta said that, from 2016 to 2025, a total of 836 people lost their lives due to floods, while 372 people died due to lightning in the state.
"During the period, 93 people died due to landslides and 175 due to storms in the state," the Minister added.
According to the Assam government reports, casualties in floods for each year are: 64 people died in 2016, followed by 160 in 2017, 45 in 2018, 101 in 2019, 124 in 2020, eight in 2021, 181 in 2022, 18 in 2023, 110 in 2024 and 25 in 2025.
The Minister further stated that, from 2016 till this year, a total of 57,56,700 bighas of crop areas were damaged due to natural disasters, and the state has lost 2,31,100 bighas of land due to river erosion.
Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said the 2026-27 state budget reflects the BJP government's "Sankalp Patra", highlighting a sharp increase in capital expenditure, major investments in infrastructure, healthcare and power, while announcing measures aimed at welfare, women's empowerment and environmental protection.
Addressing the media after Assam Finance Minister Jayanta Mallabaruah tabled the 2026-27 state budget in the Assam Assembly during the Budget Session of the Sixteenth Assam Legislative Assembly, which commenced on July 6, Sarma said the state's capital expenditure has increased nearly tenfold over the past decade.
"In 2015-16, the capital expenditure was Rs 2,951 crore. In this budget, it has gone up to around Rs 29,000 crore. We have proposed the relaxation of taxes in different sectors. Green cess has been proposed on polluting industries, and it will be used for climate change and green initiatives. This budget is a reflection of our Sankalp Patra," Sarma said.
The Chief Minister announced that the government aims to provide two lakh jobs, with a task force headed by the Chief Secretary constituted to oversee the recruitment process.
— ANI
Reader Comments
The financial side is interesting – capital expenditure up 10x to Rs 29,000 crore. But what about the 57.56 lakh bighas of crop damage and 2.31 lakh bighas of land lost to erosion? Farmers in Assam are the backbone, and they need compensation and long-term rehabilitation, not just budget talk. Let’s hope the green cess on polluting industries actually helps climate resilience.
372 lightning deaths is shocking – that's almost one per day. We need to spread awareness about lightning safety and install lightning arresters in vulnerable areas. Also, 110 deaths in 2024 alone shows the pattern is worsening. The CM's job promise of 2 lakh positions is good, but disaster management deserves a dedicated focus now. 🌧️
A proper response requires more than just data. The 175 deaths due to storms and 93 due to landslides show how multi-faceted our vulnerability is. The Sankalp Patra sounds ambitious, but we need to see concrete action on river erosion and flood shelters. Also, giving two lakh jobs is great, but climate-proofing Assam's economy should be priority number one.
I'm from the Northeast and this hits close to home. The 1,476 figure is not just a statistic – these are our people. The 181 deaths in 2022 alone must have been terrifying for local communities. The budget increase is welcome, but I wish the minister had talked about the number of relief camps operational or how many families were displaced. More transparency needed! 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.