Assam Flood Crisis Worsens Amid Relentless Rainfall; Over 6.5 Lakh People Affected Across 21 Districts
The flood situation in Assam continues to remain extremely precarious and critical as of Wednesday, with unceasing rainfall across the state leading to rising water levels and fresh inundation in multiple areas.
According to official reports, vast stretches of land in various districts have gone underwater, and the number of people impacted by the deluge is increasing steadily.
Officials from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) confirmed that at least seven rivers, including the mighty Brahmaputra, are currently flowing above the danger level, causing extensive flooding in both urban and rural pockets.
One of the rivers, Katakhal, has even breached its highest flood level at Matizuri in Hailakandi district, leading to worsening conditions in the region.
The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati has issued a fresh warning predicting heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas of the state over the next 24 to 48 hours.
Additionally, thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds with speeds ranging from 30 to 40 km/h are expected in districts such as Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara, and Kokrajhar.
The rainfall and resultant flooding have already claimed six more lives, pushing the death toll from this year’s monsoon-related disasters—including both floods and landslides—to 17.
The fatalities were reported from the districts of Hailakandi, Sribhumi, Morigaon, Cachar, Sonitpur, and Tinsukia.
According to the ASDMA’s report published on Tuesday night, approximately 6.5 lakh people have been severely affected across 21 districts. These include 69 revenue circles and over 1,500 villages, highlighting the scale and reach of the disaster.
Among the worst-affected districts is Sribhumi, where a staggering 2,31,536 people have been impacted by floodwaters.
This is followed by Nagaon, with 99,819 affected residents, and Cachar, where the deluge has hit 89,344 people. Numerous other districts such as Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Nalbari, Goalpara, and Baksa have also experienced widespread flooding due to continuous rainfall, particularly in Lower Assam, where rivers have breached embankments in several areas.
To support the displaced population, the government has established 223 relief camps across the state, currently housing 39,746 people who have been forced to evacuate their homes.
Additionally, 288 relief distribution centres are functioning to provide essential supplies such as food, water, medicine, and clothing to the affected communities.
The overflowing rivers have also had a disruptive effect on transport and communication infrastructure. Roads, railway lines, and ferry services have been severely impacted or rendered inoperative in several parts of the state, further hampering rescue and relief operations.
The Brahmaputra, which is a lifeline of Assam and the northeastern region, has breached danger levels at multiple monitoring stations. The rising river levels are not just a consequence of local rainfall but are also influenced by heavy precipitation upstream in the eastern Himalayas, which feeds several tributaries.
The ASDMA, along with the district administrations, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and local volunteers, is continuing with rescue and relief missions, evacuating stranded individuals and distributing essential items.
However, accessibility remains a significant challenge in remote and submerged areas.
Given the persistent rains and the already-saturated soil, there are growing concerns that landslides—especially in hilly regions—may worsen the humanitarian crisis.
As the situation develops, authorities are urging people living in low-lying and flood-prone zones to move to safer locations.
Helplines have been activated, and continuous advisories are being issued via both media and local networks to keep citizens informed.
The Assam government has appealed for coordinated support from central agencies, and disaster management personnel are on high alert, prepared for further escalation in flood conditions over the coming days.
