Assam Floods: Death Toll Reaches 47, Over 7 Lakh Affected as Three Districts Bear Brunt

At least 47 people have died in Assam's ongoing floods, with six fatalities reported on Thursday alone, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). More than 7.21 lakh people across the state have been impacted, with three eastern districts—Sivasagar, Charaideo, and Jorhat—experiencing unprecedented flooding despite lacking a history of severe inundation.

ASDMA officials confirmed that four deaths occurred in Sivasagar and two in Charaideo over the past 24 hours. A total of 883 villages remain submerged, and 24,124 people have sought shelter in 103 relief camps. Rivers including the Buridihing, Dikhou, Disang, and Dhansiri are flowing above danger levels.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed the scale of the disaster to a combination of cloudbursts in upstream areas of adjoining Nagaland and locally heavy rainfall that exceeded normal levels by 436%. He noted that thousands of livestock have been washed away, and villagers unaccustomed to such devastation have been severely affected.

“Various agencies, from the Indian Air Force and the National Disaster Response Force to state machinery, are working round the clock, carrying out rescue and evacuation by air and boat,” Mr. Sarma said. He added that over 300,000 kg of rice and other essential supplies have been delivered to the worst-affected districts, with more on the way.

The Chief Minister stated that the state and central governments would formulate a comprehensive long-term rehabilitation package for affected families. “Once the immediate crisis subsides, we will begin a structured dialogue with neighbouring states to establish a stronger coordination mechanism to protect our people from the impact of upstream cloudbursts,” he said.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta urged residents to avoid approaching overflowing rivers. “A few people drown or are washed away during floods because they become too curious,” he said, adding that some victims he spoke with reported acquaintances who ventured out to observe the floodwaters and never returned.

Train services in a section of the Northeast Frontier Railway’s Tinsukia Division remain suspended due to inundated tracks. Kapinjal Kishore Sharma, NFR’s chief spokesperson, said the Dikhow River's overflow caused severe flooding around Simaluguri town in Sivasagar district, and restoration efforts are underway.