NEW DELHI: The flood situation in Assam has worsened, with more than 3.62 lakh people affected across 16 districts as relentless rainfall and rising river levels continue to inundate large parts of the state. Rescue teams remain engaged in evacuating stranded residents, while authorities are closely monitoring rivers that are flowing above the danger mark.
According to official figures, 3,62,933 people from 794 villages spread across 45 revenue circles have been impacted. The worst affected districts include Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Biswanath, Golaghat, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Cachar, Udalguri, Chirang, Kamrup and Kamrup Metro.
In Upper Assam, floodwaters have entered residential neighbourhoods, disrupted road connectivity and submerged extensive agricultural land. Many residents have shifted to safer locations, while boats remain the only means of transport in several low lying villages cut off by floodwaters.
The disaster has also severely affected farming, with nearly 19,100 hectares of cropland remaining underwater, adding to the challenges faced by farmers after repeated heavy rainfall during the monsoon season.
Five more people lost their lives in the latest wave of flooding, including four in Jorhat and one in Karbi Anglong. Two individuals, one each from Charaideo and Karbi Anglong, are still missing, taking the overall flood related death toll in Assam this year to 10.
Sivasagar remains the worst hit district with 1,57,727 affected residents, followed by Charaideo with 1,04,415 and Jorhat with 50,987. Several villages in these districts continue to remain isolated.
The Brahmaputra, Burhidihing, Disang and Dhansiri South rivers are flowing above the danger level, while the Dikhou River at Sivasagar has crossed its highest flood level, raising concerns over further flooding.
Relief efforts are continuing with 101 relief camps and distribution centres sheltering 9,606 displaced people. Rescue teams have evacuated 6,710 people using 51 boats. Floodwaters have also damaged infrastructure, washing away or submerging 29 roads and breaching six embankments in Jorhat, increasing the risk to nearby communities as authorities remain on high alert.
