Deadliest Single Day of This Year's Flood Season

Assam's flood situation worsened dramatically on Tuesday, with 21 people losing their lives in a single day, one of the deadliest 24-hour periods in recent years for the state. According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the fatalities pushed this year's overall flood death toll to 31. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed the sudden worsening to a cloudburst upstream, which sent a surge of water into the state's already swollen rivers.

Sivasagar Bears the Brunt

Of the 21 deaths recorded in the latest 24-hour period, 13 came from Sivasagar district alone, including four women and two children. Charaideo recorded five deaths, while Golaghat and Jorhat reported two and one fatalities, respectively. Sivasagar remains the worst-affected district overall, with close to 3.6 lakh people impacted, followed by Jorhat with 87,662 people, Charaideo with 72,646, Dibrugarh with 18,615, and Golaghat with 16,799.

Over 5.65 Lakh People Affected Across 12 Districts

According to the ASDMA's latest update, floodwaters have inundated 872 villages spread across 44 revenue circles in 12 districts: Biswanath, Charaideo, Dhemaji, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Jorhat, Kamrup, Kamrup Metropolitan, Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Sivasagar, and Tinsukia. More than 24,210 hectares of agricultural land has been damaged, and around 1.85 lakh domestic animals and poultry have also been caught in the disaster.

Rivers Above Danger Mark, Infrastructure Damaged

The ASDMA said the Dikhow and Disang rivers were flowing above the highest flood level at certain stretches, while the Brahmaputra and the Dhansiri river were flowing above the danger mark. Six embankments have been breached, worsening the flood situation in already affected areas. Officials also reported damage to 33 roads and a bridge in Golaghat district, complicating relief operations in hard-to-reach areas.

Relief Operations Underway

By Tuesday night, 12,284 people had taken shelter in 71 relief camps set up across the affected districts, while more than one lakh people were dependent on 202 relief distribution centres for essential supplies. The Indian Army has launched 'Operation Jal Rahat' to assist with rescue and relief efforts, joining state disaster response teams already deployed on the ground.

Chief Minister to Visit Worst-Hit Districts

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is scheduled to visit several of the worst-affected districts, including Charaideo, Sivasagar, Nazira, Sonari, Jorhat, and Teok, to assess relief camps, review rescue operations, and interact with affected residents.

More Rain Forecast, Situation Could Worsen

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has placed the state on yellow alert, warning of thunderstorms and heavy rain at isolated locations over the next four days, raising concerns that the flood situation could deteriorate further before it improves. The state government said the crisis follows a pattern seen elsewhere in the Northeast this week, with Arunachal Pradesh also reporting flash floods and landslides that have killed at least seven people and affected more than 97,000 residents.