Flood-affected in Assam rises to over 21 lakh; 6 more deaths

GUWAHATI: The flood situation in Assam is showing no signs of improvement with over 21.13 lakh people across 29 districts affected as of Thursday evening and six deaths in the last 24 hours. The rising floodwaters from the upper Assam region have also made lower Assam districts inundated and historic towns like Goalpara and Dhubri have been under water since Wednesday night.With about five lakh more people affected overnight, relief and rescue efforts have also been strengthened amid rising casualties.
With the six deaths, the total number of fatalities since May has risen to 52. Of the six deaths, four were reported in Golaghat district alone while one each was reported in Charaideo and Dibrugarh districts.
Currently, Dhubri district, located situated close to Bangladesh, has the highest number of people, 6.48 lakhs, affected by the flood. Across Assam, nearly 40,000 people are currently taking shelter in relief camps to escape the deluge.
Chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma began a two-day inspection tour of the worst-affected parts of upper Assam districts on Thursday. After reviewing the situation in the Pandu area of Guwahati’s western part, Sarma inspected an embankment breach at Jugunidhari village in Majuli district, home to the world’s largest riverine island. He also visited Matmara Gaon panchayat in Bandana, Dhakuakhana.
Several wards of Goalpara town flooded overnight
After the inspection, Sarma took to X and wrote, "Situation is under control, and if there are no further rains in Arunachal and South Tibet, things will improve. Be it funds or the support of NDRF & Armed Forces, Govt of India is standing completely with the people of Assam."
Sarma said his govt is deploying resources in the flood-affected districts, including strengthening embankments with geobags to control water flow.
According to the Central Water Commission's (CWC) bulletin on Thursday evening, the Brahmaputra was flowing above danger levels at Neamatighat (Jorhat), Tezpur (Sonitpur), Guwahati (Kamrup-Metro), Goalpara and Dhubri. Though the water level in the worst-affected Dibrugarh district has decreased to below danger levels, it is showing a rising trend again. Tributaries of the Brahmaputra are also flowing above danger levels in central and upper Assam districts. In southern Assam, the Barak and Kushiyara rivers continue to flow above danger levels.
Meanwhile, floodwaters have entered several wards of Goalpara town overnight after many years as the Brahmaputra's level surged above the danger level. "We are confined to our homes but relief camps are being set up for the residents affected by floods," a resident of Goalpara said.
The floods have also brought untold miseries to wildlife. In the Kaziranga, 31 wild animal deaths have been reported.