Is the Flood Situation in Assam Getting Worse? Death Toll Reaches 46 in Northeast

Guwahati, June 5 (NationPress) The flood situation in Assam has worsened as of Wednesday, despite a decrease in rainfall intensity, while the conditions have improved in other parts of the Northeast, according to officials. With two additional fatalities in Assam, the total death toll across seven states in the region, excluding Sikkim, has now risen to 46.

According to data from various northeastern states, out of the 46 deaths reported during the ongoing spell of rain and floods since May 29, 19 have occurred in Assam, followed by 12 in Arunachal Pradesh, 6 in Meghalaya, 5 in Mizoram, 2 in Tripura, and 1 each in Nagaland and Manipur.

Officials from disaster management agencies in the seven northeastern states have indicated that the fatalities resulted from drowning, landslides, waterlogging, and other calamity-related incidents.

In Assam, the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reports that over 6.79 lakh individuals have been impacted by the floods and rainfall across 21 districts.

Additionally, over 14,977 hectares of agricultural land has been affected in 1,494 villages across these districts.

Rivers, including the mighty Brahmaputra and eight others—Burhidihing, Kopili, Barak, Sonai, Rukni, Dhaleswari, Katakhal, and Kushiyara—are flowing above danger levels in several areas of Assam.

In Arunachal Pradesh, the flood conditions remained severe on Wednesday, with continuous rainfall leading to new landslides and inundation of additional areas, affecting over 3,000 people in 23 districts.

While no new fatalities were reported on Tuesday and Wednesday, at least 12 individuals, including women and children, have lost their lives due to landslides and floods triggered by monsoon rains in five districts—East Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Longding, Lohit, and Anjaw.

The State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) reported fresh landslides in the Dibang Valley and Anjaw districts, disrupting vehicular movement along the Likabali-Aalo highway near Magi and Siji. A total of over 3,000 people have been affected by rain-induced floods and landslides across Arunachal Pradesh.

Out of Arunachal Pradesh’s 26 districts, Changlang is the most severely impacted, with six villages submerged and 2,231 residents rendered homeless. Notable tourist spots like Zupra and River Cafe near the Noa-Dehing River in Changlang have also been flooded.

A total of 212 houses have been damaged statewide, with reports of 425 livestock deaths, including 335 poultry and 95 other animals.

Moreover, floods and landslides have affected approximately 17 hectares of farmland and 20 hectares of horticultural plantations. In Manipur, the Assam Rifles have once again shown their commitment to humanitarian efforts and disaster response amid the devastating floods impacting multiple areas of the Imphal Valley.

A Defence spokesperson stated that on Wednesday, a unit of the Assam Rifles conducted a vital relief operation in Thambalkhong Leirak, Wangkhei, distributing 350 litres of potable drinking water and 5,000 litres of general-use water to residents affected by the flooding.

This timely intervention was met with heartfelt gratitude from the local community, who had been struggling to access clean water following the deluge.

Simultaneously, another relief operation took place at Khumidok village in Imphal East, where Assam Rifles personnel rescued stranded civilians, established a medical aid camp, and initiated defogging operations to mitigate health risks from stagnant water.

Their swift response played a crucial role in preventing further deterioration of living conditions and safeguarding community health. Residents of Khumidok expressed deep appreciation for the compassion and professionalism demonstrated by the Assam Rifles, recognizing their essential role in saving lives and restoring hope during this crisis, according to the spokesperson.

Overall, the flood situations in Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and Nagaland have seen improvements.

However, the flood crisis in Assam escalated further on Wednesday, with two additional deaths reported, raising the cumulative death toll from this year's floods and landslides in Assam to 19.

As per the latest bulletin from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), nearly 6.8 lakh individuals across 21 districts continue to suffer from the deluge.

Nine major rivers, including the Brahmaputra, are currently flowing above danger levels at several locations throughout the state.

The India Meteorological Department’s Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) in Guwahati has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in isolated areas, heightening concerns of further flooding.

Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and gusty winds reaching speeds of 30-40 kmph are also anticipated in districts such as Dhubri, South Salmara-Mankachar, Goalpara, and Kokrajhar. The most recent fatalities were reported from Nagaon and Cachar districts, with one individual still missing in Cachar.

The number of affected individuals surged from 6.5 lakh on Tuesday to 6,79,423 on Wednesday, impacting 66 revenue circles and 1,494 villages. Sribhumi remains the worst-affected district, with over 2.59 lakh residents impacted, followed by Hailakandi (1.72 lakh) and Nagaon (1.02 lakh).

Over 41,000 individuals have been compelled to seek shelter in 190 relief camps, with 215 relief distribution centres operational across the state. Floodwaters have submerged nearly 15,000 hectares of cropland, severely hindering agricultural activities.

The ASDMA bulletin also highlighted significant damage to roads, bridges, educational institutions, Anganwadi centres, and power infrastructure.

Urban flooding continues to affect two districts, impacting over 1,000 residents. Train services in southern Assam, especially in Silchar, have also been disrupted.

A spokesperson for the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) confirmed disruptions due to rising water levels on tracks and waterlogging in key maintenance zones. Road and ferry connectivity also remain impaired in several regions as the state copes with the escalating flood conditions.