Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday, 20 July said the state government has activated a 'whole-of-government' approach to contain the worsening flood crisis in Upper Assam, with protecting lives, rescuing stranded residents and delivering timely relief identified as the administration's overriding priorities.

Rivers Breach Danger Marks, Multiple Districts Hit

Heavy rainfall pushed the Jaji, Dikhow and Dichang rivers above the danger mark, triggering widespread inundation across Jorhat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Dibrugarh and adjoining districts. Rising water levels have forced evacuations and disrupted normal life across the region, with farmers among the most severely affected.

CM Sarma Monitors Every Flood-Hit Constituency

Sarma said he is personally tracking conditions in every flood-affected Assembly constituency, including Titabar. 'I am personally monitoring the situation of the Titabar Assembly along with every flood-affected Assembly. Our representatives are staying alongside the people. Collective effort is our strongest weapon in tackling this crisis,' he said in a series of posts on X.

Ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly and senior officials have been directed to remain on the ground until conditions normalise. Cabinet colleagues have been assigned specific districts to oversee relief operations, while district administrations coordinate rescue, evacuation and rehabilitation with disaster response agencies.

Embankments Reinforced, NDRF Teams Deployed

The government is reinforcing embankments at vulnerable stretches using sandbags, controlled piping and other flood-protection measures to limit damage to life and property. The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), working alongside district administrations, is conducting active rescue operations and extending relief support to affected families.

This comes amid a pattern of annual flood devastation in Assam — the state has recorded significant flood events every monsoon season for decades, with the Brahmaputra river system and its tributaries routinely breaching banks under heavy rainfall. Notably, Upper Assam's geography makes it particularly vulnerable to flash flooding when multiple tributaries swell simultaneously.

Health Alerts and Helplines Activated

Medical teams have been deployed across all flood-hit areas to screen vulnerable groups, maintain uninterrupted medicine supplies and prevent outbreaks of water-borne and vector-borne diseases. The Health Department has been placed on the highest level of alert with instructions to maintain adequate stocks of essential medicines and medical supplies.

Helpline numbers have been activated for affected districts, with authorities urging residents to reach out in emergencies. 'The safety of people is our utmost priority. We are committed to ensuring that relief and rehabilitation reach every affected family without delay,' Sarma said, adding that all departments would remain on the ground until the situation improves.

What Happens Next

With water levels continuing to rise, the administration's immediate focus remains on shifting residents to safer locations and ensuring targeted assistance for flood-hit farmers. The pace of embankment reinforcement and the effectiveness of inter-agency coordination will be critical in determining how quickly the situation stabilises across the five affected districts.