The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) on Friday, 7 August issued a fresh public advisory urging residents to stay away from the Dhansiri (South) River in Golaghat district as water levels continued to rise, even as floods across the state kept 1,68,701 people in distress across 15 districts. The situation in Assam remains grim, with no immediate let-up in sight for hundreds of thousands displaced by the deluge.

Fresh Warning for Golaghat

The ASDMA advisory specifically cautioned citizens living along the banks of the Dhansiri (South) and in nearby areas to remain on high alert. 'Due to the continuous increase in the water level of River Dhansiri (South) at Golaghat in Golaghat district of Assam, citizens are advised to stay away from the river,' the authority stated. The river at Numaligarh continued to flow above the danger level, though no waterway in the state was reported above the highest flood level as of Friday.

Scale of the Disaster

According to the latest ASDMA flood bulletin, 1,68,701 people spread across 481 villages in 39 revenue circles remain affected. More than 14,382 hectares of agricultural land lie submerged, dealing a severe blow to farming communities across several districts. The floods have also affected 41,475 animals and damaged 365 houses, of which 40 were completely destroyed.

Worst-Affected Districts

Golaghat is the hardest-hit district, with 54,085 people impacted, followed by Sivasagar (49,515), Jorhat (27,842), and Charaideo (21,486). Significant crop losses have been reported from Sivasagar, Jorhat, Lakhimpur, and Charaideo, compounding the economic distress for farming households already strained by the annual flood cycle.

Relief Operations Under Way

The state government has kept 133 relief camps and relief distribution centres operational across affected districts. A total of 10,111 displaced persons are sheltering in these camps, while another 35,596 people are receiving assistance through distribution centres. Relief agencies have supplied rice, pulses, edible oil, cattle feed, and other essential commodities to affected families. Rescue teams with boats and personnel remain deployed in vulnerable areas.

Casualties and Losses

The floods have claimed two lives so far — one each in Golaghat and Udalguri districts — while no person is currently reported missing, according to the ASDMA bulletin. The twin fatalities underscore the recurring human cost of Assam's annual flood crisis, which typically intensifies between June and September as the Brahmaputra and its tributaries swell with monsoon runoff. Authorities have said rescue, relief, and restoration operations are ongoing and will continue as the situation demands.