Guwahati, August 19, 2024: The flood situation in Assam has taken a severe turn, affecting 61,679 people across four districts within the past 24 hours. The district of Sivasagar is the hardest hit, with nearly 48,000 residents grappling with the escalating floodwaters. Charaideo follows with over 12,000 people impacted, while Dibrugarh and Dhemaji have reported smaller, yet significant, numbers of affected residents.
In addition to displacing thousands, the floods have devastated 6,122.5 hectares of crops across five major districts, further complicating the situation. Relief camps in Charaideo, Dhemaji, and Sivasagar are currently sheltering 3,009 individuals, while another 10,558 people have sought refuge at relief distribution centers in Sivasagar and Dibrugarh.
The death toll due to the floods remains at 106, with no new fatalities reported in recent days. However, the situation remains critical, particularly with the Disang River in Sivasagar continuing to rise above the danger level, posing an ongoing threat to the region.
The impact extends beyond human lives, with around 18,631 animals affected, particularly in Sivasagar, which is experiencing the worst of the flooding. In Dibrugarh’s Tingkhong Development Block, a Bigha of ‘Kesseru Plantation’ has been submerged, highlighting the widespread damage to agriculture.
Urban areas are not spared either, with parts of Guwahati, including Sijubari, Panjabari, and Juripar, facing flooding that has disrupted daily life for residents.
In a broader context, the Ministry of Home Affairs recently updated that Assam has seen 880 flood-related deaths from 2019 to July 25, 2024. The annual breakdown includes 157 deaths in 2019, 190 in 2020, 73 in 2021, 278 in 2022, 65 in 2023, and 117 in 2024 so far.
To aid in flood management and disaster mitigation, Assam has received Rs 503.10 crore from the Centre through the State Disaster Response Fund from 2019 to 2024. This amount was increased to Rs 680.80 crore for the years 2023 and 2024, reflecting the growing urgency to address the recurring flood challenges in the state.