Assam Flood Crisis Deepens as Heavy Rain Batters State, Govt Announces ₹4 Lakh Ex Gratia

Guwahati, July 22: Assam is facing a worsening flood emergency as relentless rainfall across several districts has pushed rivers beyond danger levels and submerged vast stretches of Upper Assam. The state government has announced an initial ex gratia payment of ₹4 lakh to the families of those who lost their lives in the deluge.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), more than 5.64 lakh people have been affected across 12 districts, with Sivasagar emerging as the worst-hit region. The district alone accounts for nearly 3.6 lakh affected residents, followed by Jorhat and Charaideo.

Death Toll Rises, Many Still Missing

ASDMA reported 21 fatalities on Tuesday, including 13 in Sivasagar, five in Charaideo, two in Golaghat, and one in Jorhat. With these deaths, the flood related toll in Assam has risen to 31, while one additional person died in urban flooding in Guwahati.

Authorities said around 70 people remain missing, raising concerns that the casualty figure could increase once rescue teams gain access to isolated areas.

IMD Issues Orange Alert

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued an Orange Alert for Assam, warning residents to remain prepared for severe weather conditions. A Yellow Alert has also been issued for the next four days, with forecasts indicating thunderstorms, lightning, and heavy rainfall at isolated locations.

The continuing downpour has hampered rescue and relief operations, particularly in villages that remain completely cut off by floodwaters.

Himanta Biswa Sarma Visits Affected Areas

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited flood-hit areas in Sivasagar and Charaideo and reviewed ongoing rescue efforts.

“The flood has caused extensive damage. The government stands with every affected family during rehabilitation and the rebuilding of livelihoods,” Sarma told reporters during his visit.

He announced an immediate ₹4 lakh ex gratia for the next of kin of each deceased person.

Relief Operations Face Major Challenges

Responding to complaints that many residents had not received relief supplies, the Chief Minister acknowledged significant logistical difficulties.

“Many villages are completely under water. Roads have disappeared and communication links have been snapped. Even boats cannot reach some locations,” he said.

Sarma explained that airdropping food packets was not feasible in several areas because supplies could fall directly into deep water. The administration is instead waiting for water levels to recede while trying to reach stranded residents through alternative means.

Drones Being Used to Deliver Supplies

After visiting Nazira in Sivasagar, Sarma described the situation as “extremely concerning.”

“At least 50 people are still missing, while 18 bodies have been recovered so far. The exact death toll will become clear only after four or five days,” he said.

He added that some pockets of Sivasagar remain inaccessible even by boat, prompting the government to deploy drones to transport essential supplies such as medicines and food.

Over 6,000 People Rescued

Rescue operations are being carried out by multiple agencies, including the Army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and Assam Police.

Officials said more than 6,000 people have been rescued from affected parts of Charaideo, Golaghat, Jorhat, and Sivasagar.

Temporary shelters, medical camps, and emergency health services have been established in several districts to prevent outbreaks of waterborne diseases.

Flood Issue Dominates Assam Assembly

The flood situation triggered heated exchanges in the Assam Legislative Assembly. The Congress attempted to move an Adjournment Motion to discuss the disaster and sought suspension of the ongoing Budget Session for two days so that an all-party committee could visit the affected regions.

Speaker Ranjeet Kumar Dass rejected the motion, leading to protests by opposition members.

Congress leader Joy Prakash Das questioned the adequacy of relief operations and demanded greater transparency regarding the distribution of aid.

Government Says Deluge Was Unprecedented

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pijush Hazarika defended the administration’s response, saying the scale of the disaster was extraordinary.

“The worst-affected areas in eastern Assam had not witnessed such a deluge in more than six decades. The administration was caught off guard by the intensity of the flooding,” he told the Assembly.

Officials said the disaster has particularly affected districts that historically experienced relatively lower flood intensity compared with other parts of Assam.

Cloudburst in Nagaland Linked to Flooding

Sarma attributed the unprecedented flooding in the southern bank areas of Upper Assam to a massive cloudburst in Nagaland.

He said Assam would work closely with the Nagaland government to strengthen early warning systems, disaster preparedness, and mitigation measures. The state will also examine whether hill cutting and related activities contributed to the sudden surge of water.

Rivers Flowing Above Danger Levels

ASDMA’s latest hydrological report shows that several major rivers are flowing above danger or historic flood levels:

Brahmaputra above danger mark at Neamatighat

Dhansiri above danger level at Golaghat and Numaligarh

Buridihing in spate at Khowang

Dikhou in Sivasagar flowing above the highest flood level

Disang at Nanglamuraghat also above historic flood levels

The rising river levels continue to threaten embankments, agricultural land, and residential areas across Upper Assam.

Thousands Remain in Relief Camps

District administrations have shifted thousands of residents to relief camps and high-ground shelters. However, officials admit that many marooned families are still awaiting evacuation, especially in remote riverine villages.

With heavy rain forecast to continue over the coming days, authorities fear that water levels may remain elevated, prolonging displacement and delaying restoration of roads, power supply, and communication networks.

The Assam government has appealed to residents in vulnerable areas to follow official advisories and cooperate with evacuation teams as the state battles one of its most severe flood emergencies in recent decades.