Centre Attributes Assam Floods to Natural Causes, Rejects Man-Made Claims
Flooding in Assam: Government's Stance
An aerial view of flood devastation in Upper Assam. (Photo:@himantabiswa/X)
New Delhi, Sept 11: The central government has dismissed claims that the recent catastrophic floods in Assam were due to human activities. According to officials, the severe flooding in July 2026 was primarily the result of continuous rainfall in Assam and its neighboring states, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
In response to a query from Congress MP Rakibul Hussain, Union Jal Shakti Minister CR Patil stated that the Ministry had looked into the issues raised by the Dhubri MP under Rule 377 in the Lok Sabha on August 4, concerning the floods and his request to classify the disaster as a “National Problem.”
Patil countered the opposition's arguments regarding the flood's origins, noting that the Assam government had informed the Ministry of Home Affairs that the floods were caused by relentless rainfall in the region.
Importantly, the Centre highlighted that the Regional Meteorological Centre of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) in Guwahati reported no instances of cloudburst during that time.
This response from the Centre emphasizes the role of extreme and sustained rainfall rather than attributing the flooding to any intentional or man-made actions, such as mining. This statement comes amid ongoing criticism from the opposition regarding the government's handling of recurrent floods and calls for increased federal intervention.
The Assam government reported that 71 individuals lost their lives due to the floods, and ex-gratia payments have been made to the families of all deceased as of August 4.
The Jal Shakti Ministry also provided details on the financial support given to Assam for flood management and anti-erosion initiatives, stating that Rs 342.63 crore in central assistance has been allocated over the past five years for these projects.
Additionally, the Brahmaputra Board has spent Rs 109.10 crore on flood management and anti-erosion efforts in Assam during the same timeframe.
The Centre clarified that flood management and anti-erosion strategies are primarily developed and executed by state governments based on their specific needs, while the Union government offers technical support and financial aid.
Under the Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP), central assistance is provided for flood management in critical regions.
Furthermore, the government noted that six projects related to flood management, erosion control, and riverbank protection have been funded in Assam through the North Eastern Council (NEC) at an estimated cost of Rs 33.40 crore.
The Brahmaputra Board has also created master plans for the Brahmaputra Main Stem, Bhogdoi, Jhanji, and Dhansiri rivers, which include both structural and non-structural flood management measures for the short, medium, and long term.
Additionally, the Centre has emphasized its flood forecasting capabilities in Assam, with the Central Water Commission operating 32 flood forecasting stations in the state, which include 30-level forecast stations and two inflow forecast stations. Advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning models have been developed for 12-level forecast stations, including eight located in the Brahmaputra basin in Assam, to enhance short-range flood forecasting.