Assam Flood Situation Remains Critical as Death Toll Rises to 66; Over 6.5 Lakh People Affected

The devastating flood situation in Assam remains critical as the statewide death toll has climbed to 66. Authorities reported four new fatalities within a single 24-hour period, with three deaths occurring in the severely inundated Sivasagar district and one in Charaideo.

Triggered by sudden and excessive rainfall—with some regions recording over 400% excess precipitation—the deluge has prompted the state administration to seek emergency assistance from the Indian Army, Air Force, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) to spearhead large-scale rescue operations.

Lakhs Displaced Across Worst-Hit Districts While there has been a marginal improvement from Friday’s peak of 7.05 lakh affected individuals, nearly 6.55 lakh people across the state remain severely impacted by the rising waters. The floods are currently ravaging six key districts: Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, and Nagaon.

Sivasagar is bearing the brunt of the disaster, emerging as the worst-hit district with over 2.9 lakh people affected. It is closely followed by Charaideo with 1.9 lakh residents impacted, and Jorhat with 1.3 lakh people facing floodwaters.

Agricultural and Infrastructure Devastation The rural economy and local infrastructure have sustained catastrophic damage. Official reports indicate that 810 villages are entirely submerged, destroying approximately 34,971 hectares of vital crop area. Essential public infrastructure has also been crippled, with floodwaters washing away or severely damaging numerous connecting roads, bridges, and critical river embankments across the affected regions.

Relief Operations and Rising Water Levels In response to the escalating humanitarian crisis, the state administration is currently operating 274 relief camps and emergency distribution centres. These facilities are providing temporary shelter and essential supplies to 18,902 displaced individuals who have been forced to flee their inundated homes.

The threat is far from over, as water levels in several major rivers continue to surge. Both the Dikhou River in Sivasagar and the Dhansiri River in Numaligarh are currently flowing dangerously above the highest flood level, posing a continuous threat of further inundation to adjoining settlements.