Assam Flood Crisis Deepens: Over 5.6 Lakh Affected, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary Submerged

Guwahati: Assam continues to reel under severe flooding, with over 5.6 lakh people affected across 16 districts and at least 21 lives lost so far. Two more deaths were confirmed on June 5, as heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers continued to devastate vast stretches of the state.

The situation remains particularly dire in the Barak Valley, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is making his second visit this week to assess the damage firsthand.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), floodwaters have submerged 1,406 villages across 57 revenue circles in 16 districts. Over 41,000 displaced residents have sought shelter in 175 relief camps, while an additional 210 relief distribution centres have been set up to support the affected population. The ASDMA reported that the total number of people impacted now stands at 5,61,644.

In Sribhumi district, the deluge has submerged homes, markets, and streets, leaving residents to survive in makeshift arrangements. “My house has submerged, and we have been living on the road for the past 3-4 days. The water level is rising,” said a villager from Baatgram in North Sribhumi while speaking to ANI, highlighting the dire circumstances on the ground.

Adding to the ecological impact, flooding has severely hit Assam’s Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, a key habitat for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. Rising waters from the Brahmaputra and Kopili rivers have submerged around 60 to 80 percent of the sanctuary, which houses the highest density of these rhinos in the country. Authorities confirmed that 10 out of the 17 anti-poaching camps in the 16 sq km sanctuary are now underwater, forcing rhinos and other wildlife to move to higher grounds and hampering forest operations.

“We have received a significant influx of water from the Brahmaputra after June 1,” said Pranjal Baruah, a ranger at Pobitora. “Floodwaters have also entered via the Kopili River through the Goronga Beel,” he added, painting a grim picture of the sanctuary’s current state.

As rescue and relief efforts continue, the focus remains on providing immediate assistance to affected communities, ensuring wildlife safety, and assessing the long-term impacts on infrastructure and biodiversity. The situation is being closely monitored, with further government intervention expected in the coming days.

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