The relentless floods in Assam continue to wreak havoc, affecting over 24 lakh people. The official bulletin reveals that major rivers remain above the danger mark, with the death toll exceeding 50. Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
1. The Brahmaputra River is surging above the danger level at Nimatighat, Guwahati, Goalpara, and Dhubri. Its tributaries, including Burhi Dihing, Dikhou, Disang, Dhansiri, Jia Bharali, and Kopili, are also flowing above their danger levels. The Barak River and its tributaries are experiencing similar overflow.
2. Tragically, a landslide triggered by persistent rainfall in the Dispur area of Kamrup Metropolitan district claimed two lives, including a child. This incident brings the total death toll from this year’s floods, landslides, and storms to 64. While there have been no new flood-related fatalities, the number of flood-specific deaths remains at 52.
3. The floods have inflicted severe damage on agricultural lands, with floodwaters submerging 63,490.97 hectares of crop area.
4. Beyond the widespread agricultural devastation, urban flooding has been reported in the districts of Kamrup (Metropolitan), Kamrup, and Dibrugarh. In Kamrup (Metropolitan), a child is reported missing due to the floodwaters.
5. The district of Dhubri remains the most severely impacted, with 7,75,721 people affected. Following Dhubri are Darrang (1,86,108), Cachar (1,75,231), Barpeta (1,39,399), and Morigaon (1,46,045).
6. The official bulletin reveals that 47,103 individuals have sought shelter in 612 relief camps. Rescue efforts are ongoing, with over 379 people and 483 animals rescued by boats operated by various agencies.
7. On Friday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Dibrugarh town to assess the flood situation. He assured the public that the situation was under control and highlighted the government’s focus on community-driven solutions to address the ongoing crisis. He stated, “I visited Tengakhat in Dibrugarh district. Floods have hampered connectivity and homes have been damaged. We are working on a war footing to ensure connectivity is restored at the earliest.”
8. Following his visit to Dibrugarh, Sarma proceeded to Majuli with his team to evaluate the flood situation in the district. MLA Mrinal Saikia from the state also distributed food to affected residents using his mobile kitchen.
9. The Regional Meteorological Department has issued a forecast of heavy to very heavy rainfall, with isolated extremely heavy rainfall expected in isolated locations across Assam on July 6. The department has also issued an orange alert for very heavy rains extending until July 9.
10. Sadly, the floodwaters in Kaziranga National Park have resulted in the deaths of 31 animals. The current floods mark Assam’s sixth consecutive flood situation since 2018. In 2023, Assam faced a similar crisis following the impact of Cyclone Biparjoy, with Lakhimpur experiencing the most severe impact, followed by Dibrugarh, as reported by the environmental magazine Down To Earth.
