Assam Floods Recede: Over 6.5 Lakh Still Affected, Death Toll Reaches 66

The flood situation in Assam showed signs of improvement on Sunday as water levels receded in most affected areas, particularly in regions that did not receive overnight rain. However, over 6.5 lakh people remain affected across six districts, and the death toll in this year's deluge has risen to 66, according to officials.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported that water levels were receding in Upper Assam districts, including Charaideo, Sivasagar, and Jorhat. “We hope the situation improves further during the day. This will help us provide relief more effectively,” an ASDMA official said.

According to the ASDMA’s midnight bulletin, more than 6,54,800 people are affected in Charaideo, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Nagaon, and Sivasagar. Sivasagar is the worst-hit district with nearly 2.9 lakh affected, followed by Charaideo (1.9 lakh) and Jorhat (1.3 lakh). The situation has improved marginally since Friday, when over 7.05 lakh people were affected across nine districts.

Four more deaths were reported in the last 24 hours, bringing this year's flood toll to 66. Three deaths occurred in Sivasagar and one in Charaideo.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured full support to the state government. Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal reviewed relief measures at camps and directed officials to ensure uninterrupted access to healthcare, food, drinking water, and other essentials.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the situation has slightly improved and the administration has reached almost all affected areas. He told a press conference that a central team has arrived to assess the damage in Upper Assam.

The ASDMA said 274 relief camps and distribution centres are operating across six districts, sheltering 18,902 displaced people. Multiple agencies, including the Army, NDRF, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, police, and civil authorities, have conducted rescues in various parts of Upper Assam.

In the last 24 hours, the authority distributed 1,668.68 quintals of rice, 286.99 quintals of dal, 83.75 quintals of salt, and 7,995.01 litres of mustard oil among flood victims.

Currently, 810 villages are submerged, and 34,970.8 hectares of cropland have been damaged. Embankments, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure have been affected. The Dikhow River at Sivasagar and the Dhansiri at Numaligarh are flowing above the danger level.