Eight individuals lost their lives in Assam’s devastating floods on Sunday, raising the death toll to 66. The fatalities occurred across Cachar (1), Dhubri (2), Goalpara (1), Nalbari (2), Dhemaji (1), and Sivasagar (1) districts.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the floods have severely impacted 28 out of the state’s 35 districts, affecting 22,74,289 people in 3,446 villages. Over 68,432.75 hectares of cropland have been damaged, along with numerous roads, bridges, and river embankments.
To aid the affected, authorities have established 269 relief camps, providing shelter to 53,689 people. The ASDMA reported that ten rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Burhidihing, Dikhou, Disang, Dhansiri, Kopili, Beki, Sankosh, Barak, and Kushiyara, are currently flowing above danger levels.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams have been deployed in Cachar, Barpeta, Bongaigaon, Dibrugarh, and Jorhat districts. They are being assisted by the State Disaster Response Force and the police in their rescue and relief efforts.
The floods have also inundated large areas of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, with 68 out of 233 camps inside the park still underwater. Despite the challenging conditions, forest personnel continue to patrol and manage the park. So far, 129 animals, including six rhinos and 98 hog deer, have perished, while authorities have rescued 96 others.
On Sunday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Palashbari in Kamrup district to assess the situation. He also toured several relief camps, interacting with the residents. Sarma assured the affected individuals that the government would take steps to repair or rebuild homes damaged or destroyed by the floods. He emphasized the government’s commitment to finding a long-term solution to Assam’s recurring flood problem.