Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: The death toll from the floods in Assam has risen to 66. While water levels show signs of receding, over 654,800 people across six districts remain affected by the deluge. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached out to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday to assess the damage. He pledged full support from the central government for ongoing relief and rebuilding operations.
Sarma briefed the Prime Minister on the state’s response efforts. In a public statement, the Chief Minister noted, "I briefed him on the measures being undertaken by the State Government and our efforts to reach out to every affected family." The Prime Minister expressed condolences for the loss of life and property, marking the crisis as a top priority for New Delhi.
Sivasagar remains the hardest-hit area with 290,000 people impacted, followed by 190,000 in Charaideo and 130,000 in Jorhat. Recent data shows four additional fatalities, including three in Sivasagar and one in Charaideo. Total casualties across the disaster reached 61 by Friday, with 14 people lost in that 24-hour window alone, including seven drowning victims in Charaideo and six in Sivasagar.
More than 300 individuals are still reported missing. Flooding has submerged 810 villages and destroyed 34,970.8 hectares of crops. Infrastructure damage remains extensive, with roads, bridges, and embankments crippled by the rising water. The Dikhou River in Sivasagar and the Dhansiri River at Numaligarh continue to flow above danger levels.
Rescue operations are now active across the region. The National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, the Indian Army, and the Indian Air Force are evacuating trapped residents and moving supplies. Drones are also being deployed to monitor conditions. Sarma confirmed that 274 relief camps are currently sheltering 18,902 people. State ministers Susanta Borgohain, Bimal Borah, and Keshab Mahanta are coordinating efforts on the ground in Charaideo and Sivasagar.
While survivors report that some areas are still struggling with food and drinking water shortages, officials indicate the situation is improving. The threat posed by water release from the Doyang river has subsided as the Brahmaputra and Dhansiri rivers levels dropped. Though the immediate danger may be easing in some zones, the economic fallout for farmers and small business owners remains severe.
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