Guwahati, Assam: June 2 – Assam continues to battle a severe flood situation with water levels showing no signs of receding in numerous districts, officials confirmed today. The India Meteorological Department’s Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati has issued a grim forecast, predicting widespread moderate rainfall with isolated incidents of heavy to very heavy, and even extremely heavy downpours across the state. This persistent rainfall is expected to exacerbate the already dire situation.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported late Sunday night that the human cost of the floods has tragically increased, with two more fatalities confirmed in Cachar and Sribhumi districts. This brings the total number of lives lost due to floods and landslides in the state this year to a distressing ten. The deluge has now impacted approximately four lakh people across 15 districts, with Cachar bearing the brunt of the crisis, affecting over one lakh residents. Sribhumi follows closely with 85,000 affected, while Nagaon accounts for 62,000 displaced individuals.
In response to the escalating crisis, authorities are operating 155 relief camps and distribution centres across 12 districts, providing shelter and aid to 10,272 displaced individuals. Over the past 24 hours, significant quantities of essential supplies have been distributed, including 1,090.08 quintals of rice, 284.63 quintals of dal, 952.76 quintals of salt, and 4,726.26 litres of mustard oil, reaching flood victims across the state.
The ASDMA further detailed that 764 villages remain submerged, and a vast 3,524.38 hectares of agricultural land have been devastated by the floodwaters. Critical infrastructure, including embankments, roads, and bridges, has sustained significant damage in various districts. The Brahmaputra River continues to flow above the danger mark at Dibrugarh and Nimatighat, while its tributaries Dhansiri at Numaligarh and Kopili at Kampur also remain precariously high. In the Barak Valley, the Barak River at Badarpur Ghat, along with its tributaries Kushiyara at Sribhumi and Katakhal in Matizuri, are all flowing above their respective danger levels.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday evening cautioned residents, particularly those in low-lying and riverine areas, that the situation is likely to worsen due to the continuous heavy rainfall in Assam and neighbouring regions. Union Home Minister Amit Shah personally contacted Chief Minister Sarma to assess the flood situation, reassuring him of all necessary assistance from the Centre. Multiple agencies are actively engaged in extensive rescue and relief operations, with the Indian Air Force successfully evacuating fourteen stranded individuals from the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border. Road, railway, and ferry services have been significantly disrupted across the state, which has been experiencing relentless rainfall for the past few days.
Also read: Northeast Floods: Kharge Slams Centre Over Delayed Aid, Unfulfilled Promises