Assam Flood and Landslide Death Toll Hits 866 Over Decade

Guwahati: Floods and landslides killed 866 people in Assam over the last ten years. Official data submitted to the Assam Legislative Assembly shows 841 flood deaths and 25 landslide fatalities from 2016 to 2025. Disaster management efforts continue across the state.

The death toll shifted wildly from year to year. Officials reported 64 deaths in 2016 before the numbers climbed to 160 in 2017. A sharp drop followed in 2021 with only 8 deaths. Then came the disaster of 2022. That year, the state faced its worst crisis with 181 fatalities. It remains the deadliest annual toll in the decade.

Morigaon suffered some of the highest cumulative flood losses. Other districts like Cachar, Nagaon, Barpeta, Dibrugarh, Sonitpur, Golaghat, Darrang, and Kamrup Metro also saw heavy losses. Landslides painted a separate, grim picture. The government noted these incidents show "the vulnerability of urban hill slopes and Barak Valley districts to rain-induced landslides."

Kamrup Metro recorded the most landslide deaths in the region. Karimganj, Cachar, Dima Hasao, Hailakandi, and Goalpara also faced significant risks. While 2020 saw the highest landslide toll with 11 victims, recent reports show 7 deaths in 2025. Mitigation efforts remain ongoing as the state works to address these recurring natural disasters.