In a relentless deluge that has turned vast stretches of Assam into a watery graveyard, the death toll from the current wave of floods has climbed to 41, with 10 lives, including four children, lost in a single devastating 24-hour period. Official figures from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority paint a harrowing picture: more than 6.53 lakh people across 11 districts are battling the rising waters, while nearly 940 villages lie submerged under the swollen Brahmaputra and its tributaries.
Sivasagar stands as the epicentre of this catastrophe, with almost four lakh residents affected in what officials describe as the worst flooding in six decades for parts of upper Assam. Homes have been swept away, livestock drowned, and families torn apart. In Guwahati, major arteries like Bhupen Hazarika Path remain waterlogged after fresh downpours, paralysing the state’s gateway and stranding thousands more
Across the inundated landscape, scenes of desperation unfold. Survivors cling to rooftops and makeshift rafts as National Disaster Response Force teams race against time, pulling 8,400 people to safety in one day alone. Over three lakh have sought refuge in nearly 500 relief camps, yet six remain missing, and the threat of water-borne diseases looms large. Embankments have crumbled, roads have vanished, and the rivers continue to rage above danger levels.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has toured the worst-hit zones, promising support “like family” and announcing ex-gratia payments. Air force helicopters and drones deliver essentials to cut-off areas. Still, with more heavy rain forecast, the nightmare shows no sign of ending.
Assam’s people, resilient yet exhausted, now face not just the floodwaters, but the long struggle to rebuild lives washed away in a matter of days. The state needs more than prayers; it needs sustained rescue, relief, and a lasting solution to its annual cycle of watery devastation.
JANPATH NEWS NETWORK (JNN)
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