Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: Assam remains under water. The state's flood death toll has hit 68, according to the Disaster Reporting and Information Management System. Over 4.45 lakh people across 856 villages in 12 districts face the deluge. Charaideo and Sivasagar districts are the hardest hit.
The agricultural sector is reeling. Data shows 37,139.52 hectares of cropland are submerged. Furthermore, over 88,000 animals are impacted, with 9,973 livestock lost in Charaideo alone. These losses include 2,042 large animals, 2,225 small animals, and 5,706 poultry. Farming households are losing their primary income sources as sand and silt bury homes and fields.
Khumtai MLA Mrinal Saikia is demanding direct financial aid for affected families. During a July 27 press conference in Guwahati, he highlighted the destruction of rural livelihoods. "The flood has completely shattered the economies of several districts in Assam, particularly the rural economy. The government must compensate people for losses in the poultry and livestock sectors," Saikia stated.
Administrative response remains strained. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma admitted that officials cannot reach 30 percent of flooded areas in Nazira and 20 percent in Sivasagar due to debris. Currently, 28,695 people occupy 184 relief camps. These facilities provide shelter to 97 pregnant or lactating women and 42 persons with disabilities. Rescue teams operate 67 boats while distributing rice, dal, and salt.
Infrastructure is failing. The Dhansiri (South) river flows above the danger level. Reports confirm 171 houses are destroyed and 4,667 partially damaged, alongside school closures and road erosions. While the government monitors the situation, critics point to a lack of advance warnings despite heavy rainfall in neighboring Nagaland. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal maintains that the Centre and state are coordinating rescue efforts, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi tracking developments closely.
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