Severe Flooding Hits Assam: Six Districts Affected as Rescue Operations Intensify

Flood Crisis in Assam

Guwahati, June 29: The initial wave of flooding in Assam escalated on Monday, affecting six districts and disrupting both rail and road transport. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued new weather alerts, including red alerts for Kokrajhar, Chirang, Tamulpur, and Baksa.

In light of the deteriorating flood conditions, Union Home Minister Amit Shah held discussions with Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, promising comprehensive support from the central government.

"I updated him on the ongoing relief and rehabilitation efforts. He assured us of all necessary assistance from the Government of India to manage this crisis," Sarma shared on social media.

Reports indicate that floods have impacted Dhemaji, Nalbari, Dibrugarh, Chirang, Lakhimpur, and Kokrajhar, with continuous rainfall in Arunachal Pradesh exacerbating the situation in several riverine regions of Upper Assam.

Dhemaji is the most severely affected area, with 15,483 individuals from 69 villages in the Jonai, Sissiborgaon, Dhemaji, and Gogamukh revenue circles suffering from floodwaters. The Jonai Revenue Circle alone has 31 submerged villages.

Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Keshab Mahanta, assigned by the Chief Minister to evaluate the situation, reported that two relief camps have been established in Jonai, with rescue operations ongoing, supported by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).

Rescue operations unfolding in Dhemaji after worsening flood situation (Photo: @ATULBORA2/X)

An NDRF team from Sivasagar, equipped with motorized rescue boats, has arrived in Dhemaji, while another team from Itanagar is en route.

The situation in Dhemaji has worsened due to a landslide in Arunachal Pradesh's Magi village, which obstructed the Gai River's flow, prompting the neighboring state to request Army assistance for controlled river channel restoration.

Rail services between Archipathar and Simen Chapari stations have been halted following the collapse of a railway bridge due to heavy rainfall and severe bank erosion, disrupting regional connectivity.

Residents in Jonai described the situation as dire. "The embankment was washed away around 10:30 PM due to heavy floodwaters from Arunachal Pradesh. Six to seven villages in our area are submerged," a local stated.

A police official involved in the rescue efforts noted that the water level rose unexpectedly, necessitating the initial use of local boats before SDRF teams could reach the affected villages.

"Although SDRF teams were alerted, local boats were initially deployed to rescue elderly residents," the official explained.

In Kokrajhar, persistent rainfall over recent days has led to river overflows, inundating low-lying areas and disrupting daily life.

Kokrajhar District Commissioner with administrative officials taking stock of the flood situation (Photo: AT)

The district administration is closely monitoring the situation. Rainfall near the Gaurang railway bridge area reached 57.60 mm, with cumulative rainfall in the district totaling 1,223.90 mm as of Sunday morning.

In Chirang district, the swollen Ai River washed away a bamboo bridge at the Dangagaon-Nepalpara crossing, leaving over 300 students uncertain about their ongoing half-yearly examinations.

The flood situation has also deteriorated in Nalbari district, especially in Tihu, where annual floods have inundated large areas.

Several revenue villages, including Sandheli Makrapar and Barpit, have been submerged twice in the past week after rising waters inundated the area again on Sunday night.

Road connectivity has been severely compromised, forcing residents to navigate through floodwaters under perilous conditions.

The latest flooding has exacerbated the impact of the Mora Pagladia River, which had already submerged several villages and roads in the Tihu area.

Residents have voiced concerns about inadequate flood-control measures and delays in embankment protection work, leaving vulnerable areas exposed to recurrent flooding.

"Students cannot attend examinations, daily activities have ceased, and farmlands have been damaged," lamented a local resident.

Another villager criticized the slow progress of embankment protection work despite the escalating flood situation.

Flood-related disruptions have also been reported in Lakhimpur district, where overflowing rivers have breached roads and culverts at multiple locations.

Previously, floodwaters washed away a culvert on the Narayanpur-Simaluguri road, severing communication with several villages and leading to the cancellation of school examinations as students were unable to cross the inundated areas.

Villagers have renewed their calls for strengthening embankments along vulnerable riverbanks as rainfall persists across the region.

With the IMD predicting more heavy rainfall in the coming days, authorities remain vigilant as rescue, relief, and restoration efforts continue across the affected districts.