Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Guwahati: Assam is grappling with a severe flood crisis that has claimed 95 lives and displaced thousands across 14 districts. Current data from the Assam State Disaster Management Authority indicates 160,653 people remain affected across 563 villages. Floodwaters have submerged over 16,951 hectares of cropland, while 76 homes were destroyed and 266 partially damaged.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda visited the disaster zone on August 5, specifically touring the hard-hit Nepalikhuti and Bihubor areas in Sivasagar. Accompanied by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nadda surveyed the region and promised federal backing. "The damage is so huge that it will take time for normalcy to return," Nadda told reporters. He assured flood-hit residents that the Centre would provide comprehensive financial assistance and compensation for property and livestock losses.
In a notable political development, Raijor Dal president Akhil Gogoi lauded Chief Minister Sarma for personally walking barefoot through waist-deep water to reach flood victims. Gogoi, a vocal political opponent, noted this was the first time he had seen a chief minister assess ground conditions without relying on heavy machinery or security vehicles. The state government has announced an interim relief package of Rs 15,000 for over 75,000 families, alongside ex gratia payments of Rs 9 lakh for the families of the deceased.
Private sector support has also arrived. The Vedanta Group contributed Rs 7 crore to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, earning praise from Sarma for its commitment to the state. Meanwhile, rescue operations remain active. Agencies have deployed 76 boats to evacuate residents and livestock, while 104 relief camps and distribution centres provide food, water, and medicine to the displaced.
The current deluge, triggered by heavy rainfall between July 18 and 22, caused major rivers including the Dikhow, Disang, and Dhansiri to breach their embankments. Environmental experts and local leaders point to unchecked mining in the upstream Naga Hills as a major cause for the siltation and water surge. While waters are slowly receding, authorities remain on high alert for further rainfall that could threaten the recovery process.
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