Flood Situation in Assam Remains Critical Despite Decreasing Water Levels
Ongoing Flood Concerns in Assam
Guwahati, July 30 - Despite a reduction in water levels in several flood-affected areas of Assam, the situation remains alarming as of Thursday, according to officials. They reported that the death toll from flood-related incidents has reached 78, with over three hundred thousand individuals still impacted.
In the meantime, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a warning for heavy rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms in parts of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland over the next three days, raising concerns for districts bordering these states. An official from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) noted, 'Most districts in upper Assam affected by the floods have not experienced rainfall, leading to a decrease in water levels in submerged villages, providing some relief to residents.'
According to the daily flood bulletin released by the authority on Wednesday night, two more fatalities were reported in Sivasagar district and one in Golaghat due to flood-related incidents in the past 24 hours.
This brings the total number of deaths from flood-related events this year to 78. The bulletin indicated that currently, 300,031 individuals are affected by the floods, with the highest number of 137,561 in Charadeiv. Following this, Sivasagar has 84,600 and Jorhat has 49,911 individuals facing the flood crisis. ASDMA reported that over 16,500 displaced individuals have sought refuge in 71 relief camps.
Additionally, 30 relief distribution centers are assisting more than 72,000 people. Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday to assess the flood situation in the state. The Chief Minister mentioned that while water levels have decreased, many individuals are unable to return home due to damage or mud and silt accumulation in their residences.
The bulletin also revealed that 21,523.08 hectares of agricultural land are submerged, and over 11,000 livestock have been swept away by the floods, with another 17,000 affected. Meanwhile, the IMD has forecasted heavy rainfall and thunderstorms in certain areas of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh from July 30 to August 1, which could impact Tinsukia, Dhemaji, and Lakhimpur districts in Assam.