Assam Flood Death Toll Hits 97 as Schools Prepare to Reopen

Guwahati: Assam floods claimed two more lives, bringing the total death toll to 97. The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported 168,701 people across 15 districts still reeling from the disaster on Thursday, August 6. Floodwaters impact 39 revenue circles and 481 villages. Waters are slowly receding. The Dhansiri (South) River at Numaligarh remains above the danger level, though no rivers currently exceed their highest flood benchmarks.

Golaghat remains the most heavily impacted district with 54,085 people affected, followed by Sivasagar with 49,515, Jorhat with 27,842, and Charaideo with 21,486. Other affected districts include Udalguri, Kamrup (Metro), Kamrup, Nagaon, Darrang, Sonitpur, Hojai, Lakhimpur, Biswanath, Karbi Anglong, and Dhemaji. Water covers 14,382.26 hectares of agricultural land. The state previously reported 16,951.76 hectares submerged, alongside damage to 22 roads, two bridges, and 342 houses.

Authorities manage 133 relief facilities, including 50 camps and 83 distribution centres. These sites shelter 10,111 people, while 35,596 others receive aid outside. Teams have used 76 boats to evacuate residents and livestock, distributing rice, pulses, oil, and cattle feed.

Education Minister Ranoj Pegu announced that schools in flood-hit districts should reopen on August 10. Schools still under water or mud will remain closed. Pegu stated, "The priority is to ensure students’ education is not disrupted despite the damage caused to several schools by the recent floods." Students at unusable campuses will attend classes at nearby relief camps. Institutions in Sivasagar and Charaideo require further restoration before students can return.