Assam: Brahmaputra overflows, 175 villages submerged in 12 districts; death toll rises to 8

NEW DELHI: Heavy rainfall in Assam has led to rising water levels in the Brahmaputra River and widespread flooding across multiple districts, resulting in eight deaths and affecting over 58,000 people across 175 villages. The flooding has submerged homes, fields, and caused severe waterlogging in various parts of the state as of Sunday.

The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) reported that three people died in floods and five in landslides. Two people, including a child, died in Golaghat district due to flooding, while one person drowned in Lakhimpur district. Five others lost their lives, and two were injured in landslides in the Kamrup (Metro) district.The first spell of floods has affected 12 districts including Dhemaji, South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Biswanath, Tinsukia, and Karbi Anglong West.The flood waters have submerged 791.32 hectares of crop-land, with nearly 7,000 affected people taking shelter in relief camps and distribution centers established by the district administration. The authorities have set up 16 relief facilities in the flood-hit areas.

The disaster has significantly impacted livestock, with 194 animals washed away and 75,918 affected. Rescue operations are being conducted by the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF), National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), Fire and Emergency Services, and local administration.Infrastructure damage has been extensive, with 22 roads, one bridge, and multiple embankments affected. The floods have also damaged irrigation canals, school buildings, and Anganwadi centers.Urban flooding has affected 9,865 people in Kamrup, Dibrugarh, Darrang, Cachar, and Kamrup (M) districts. In Dibrugarh district, the Brahmaputra River remains at high levels, while Guwahati has experienced severe waterlogging in several areas following continuous rainfall.Low-lying areas across vulnerable pockets of Dibrugarh district have been particularly affected, with homes and fields submerged due to the sustained downpour in the state and neighboring regions.