Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Devastating floods in Assam have claimed 50 lives, with officials warning the toll will likely rise as search operations continue. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed that around 40 people remain missing in the Nazira subdivision alone. Efforts to reach trapped residents are ongoing, though roughly 20 percent of the worst-hit districts remain cut off by washed-away roads.
"So far, 41 people have died, but according to our assessment, there are still 70 to 80 people missing. I estimate that the casualty figure will rise further," Sarma stated. While rescue teams have reached many, government personnel still cannot access approximately 50,000 people in Nazira and 30,000 in Sivasagar.
The crisis stems from a sudden, massive surge of water following record-breaking rainfall between July 18 and 19. Regions like Charaideo and Sivasagar, which typically avoid flooding, faced 435 to 493 percent excess rainfall. The deluge submerged 24,891.66 hectares of farmland and destroyed countless homes, livestock, and vital documents. Over 60,000 households remain without power as submerged transformers pose electrocution risks.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed an inter-ministerial central team will visit starting July 25. This group will evaluate the damage to determine federal assistance for long-term rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the Army, Air Force, NDRF, and SDRF continue round-the-clock rescue missions. Local administrations and health teams are currently prioritizing the prevention of disease outbreaks across 99 active relief camps. The state government is coordinating with these federal agencies to stabilize infrastructure and restore power, while Assembly proceedings in the state have been dominated by urgent debates over the disaster.
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