Assam's flood crisis deepened on Friday, 7 August, with 1,55,849 people across 13 districts still reeling from the deluge, as the cumulative death toll this year climbed to 98, according to officials. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) confirmed that the affected population spans 464 villages across 33 revenue circles, with no immediate sign of the situation easing.

Worst-Hit Districts

Golaghat reported the highest number of affected people at 58,750, followed closely by Sivasagar with 48,286. Jorhat recorded 25,259 affected, Charaideo had 12,779, Nagaon saw 5,424, Darrang had 3,367, and Dhemaji reported 1,265 people impacted. Crop fields measuring 10,748.64 hectares remain submerged across the state, compounding the economic toll on farming communities.

Relief Operations on the Ground

A total of 73 relief camps and distribution centres are operational across the affected districts. Of these, 10,326 people are sheltering in relief camps, while 6,881 are receiving assistance through distribution centres. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Civil Defence personnel, and other agencies have deployed 219 rescue teams and eight boats, alongside multiple medical teams. Essential supplies — including food grains, drinking water, baby food, and other necessities — are being distributed to the displaced population.

River Levels and Ongoing Alerts

The Dhansiri (South) river at Golaghat and Numaligarh, along with the Kushiyara river in Sribhumi district, continued to flow above the danger mark on Friday morning. Notably, no river was recorded above its highest flood level, offering a measure of cautious relief. Authorities have advised residents in vulnerable areas to remain on high alert as water levels in several rivers continue to fluctuate.

Damage to Property and Livestock

The floods have taken a significant toll beyond human lives. 47,879 animals have been reported affected, while 126 houses have been fully destroyed and 344 houses partially damaged across the affected districts. This comes amid Assam's well-documented annual vulnerability to monsoon flooding — the state has faced severe inundation nearly every year for decades, with the Brahmaputra river system and its tributaries regularly breaching banks during the southwest monsoon season.

What Comes Next

Authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation and will scale relief operations as required. With monsoon activity over northeast India expected to remain active through August, the risk of further flooding in low-lying and riverine areas persists. The final toll — in lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure — is likely to rise before the waters recede.