Assam: Severe floods in Assam have claimed 68 lives and affected over 600,000 people, with rising river levels and heavy rainfall deepening the emergency.
Flooding remains a persistent threat in Assam, where nearly 40 percent of the state classifies as flood-prone by the National Flood Commission (NFC). The region lies on the vast floodplain of the Brahmaputra River, which flows from the Himalayas and is fed by more than 50 tributaries.
During the monsoon season, heavy rainfall increases the river’s volume. The Brahmaputra spreads across flat plains and deposits large amounts of sand and silt. This process reduces the river’s capacity and raises the risk of overflow.
Experts noted that conditions worsened over time due to several factors. Upstream deforestation weakened natural barriers. Ageing embankments reduced protection. Climate change drove heavier rainfall patterns and increased flood risks across the region.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of Assam stated that rainfall levels reached between 435 percent and 490 percent above normal in affected districts, causing rivers to rise at an unprecedented speed. On July 21, nearly 21 people died within 24 hours, mostly swept away or drowned, while others died in landslides and house collapses.
The heavy rain in parts of Nagaland and Assam since mid-July has triggered the current crisis. Pijush Hazarika, Minister of Assam described the situation as the worst in six decades. Government data shows at least 68 deaths in four weeks, including 58 in the past week alone, while around 40 people remain missing.
Upper Assam faces the most severe impact. Tributaries from surrounding hills feed into the Brahmaputra, worsening flooding in districts such as Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat. Many villages remain cut off, while rescue teams struggle to reach stranded residents.
Chief Secretary of Assam, Ravi Kotta stated that officials were deployed across worst-hit districts to accelerate relief and restore essential services. Efforts have focused on supplying essential flood relief materials and restoring services.
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