Photo Courtesy: nenow
Guwahati: The flood death toll in Assam climbed to 95 on Wednesday, August 5. While water levels receded in some areas, the state remains in a crisis. Official reports indicate 160,653 people are affected across 563 villages in 14 districts. Sivasagar remains the hardest hit, with over 57,000 residents impacted by the disaster.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority reported that 16,951 hectares of cropland are submerged. Damage includes 22 roads, two bridges, and hundreds of houses. One person is still missing, and over 35,000 livestock remain at risk. Rescue teams are using 76 boats to evacuate residents from inundated zones. Currently, 104 relief camps and distribution centers are housing or assisting over 44,000 people.
The Vedanta Group provided Rs 7 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to bolster recovery. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed the assistance. “As Assam faces this devastating flood, Vedanta has once again stepped forward with a contribution of ₹7 crore towards relief and rehabilitation efforts,” he said. The state has promised ex gratia payments of up to Rs 9 lakh for families of the deceased and interim assistance of Rs 15,000 for affected households.
Infrastructure pressures persist. On Wednesday, NEEPCO opened four spillway gates at the Doyang Hydro Electric Project in Nagaland to manage rising water levels. The controlled release caused a rise in the Dhansiri river, triggering downstream alerts in Assam. The Central Water Commission noted the Dhansiri remains the only river currently flowing above the danger level.
Critics point to environmental mismanagement. Former Opposition leader Debabrat Saikia blamed unchecked sand and stone mining in the Dikhow river for worsening soil erosion. Others cite deforestation in the Naga Hills and rapid silt runoff as primary causes for the embankment breaches. With intermittent rain still hitting Upper Assam, district administrations remain on high alert.
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