Dibrugarh, Assam: The mighty Brahmaputra River in Dibrugarh district recorded alarming water levels on Saturday, June 1, as relentless rainfall continued to batter several parts of Assam and neighbouring regions. The incessant downpour has triggered widespread flooding in low-lying areas, submerging homes and vast swathes of agricultural fields across vulnerable pockets of the district, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
Meanwhile, Guwahati, the state capital, witnessed severe waterlogging in numerous areas on Sunday following continuous spells of rainfall that transformed city streets into virtual canals. Commuters faced significant challenges navigating the inundated roads, highlighting the urban infrastructure’s struggle to cope with the sheer volume of water.
The grim reality of the escalating flood situation has been underscored by a rising death toll. Officials confirmed that eight individuals have tragically lost their lives due to floods and landslides across the state. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) report dated May 31, three fatalities were directly attributed to floods, while five succumbed to landslides.
The ASDMA detailed the flood-related deaths, stating, “Two people, including a child, died due to the flood in Golaghat district, while one person drowned in flood waters in Lakhimpur district.” The landslide fatalities were reported from Kamrup (Metro) district, where five people lost their lives and two others sustained injuries.
The first spell of floods has cast a wide net of devastation, affecting 175 villages spread across 20 revenue circles in 12 districts: Dhemaji, South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Biswanath, Tinsukia, and West Karbi Anglong. The ASDMA flood report revealed that 58,091 people have been impacted by this initial wave of flooding, with 791.32 hectares of vital crop-land submerged.
In response to the unfolding crisis, district administrations have swiftly moved to establish 16 relief camps and relief distribution centres in the flood-hit areas, providing shelter to nearly 7,000 affected individuals. The floods have also taken a heavy toll on livestock, with 194 animals washed away and 75,918 animals affected across the submerged districts.
State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and local administration teams are tirelessly engaged in rescue and relief operations across the affected regions. The floodwaters have caused extensive damage to public infrastructure, washing away 22 roads, one bridge, breaching three embankments, and damaging four other embankments, irrigation canals, school buildings, and Anganwadi centres, among others. Furthermore, the report highlighted that 9,865 people have been affected by urban flooding in Kamrup, Dibrugarh, Darrang, Cachar, and Kamrup (M) districts, underscoring the widespread nature of the current calamity.
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