Assam Battles Severe Floods; Rescue Operations Intensify Across State
Over 1.7 lakh people have been affected across 12 districts as major rivers continue to flow above danger levels. The Indian Army, NDRF and other agencies have intensified rescue and relief operations under 'Operation Jal Rahat'.
GUWAHATI- The flood situation in Assam has deteriorated sharply over the past 24 hours, with more than 1.7 lakh people now affected across 12 districts, according to the latest bulletin issued by the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
Continuous monsoon rainfall, coupled with heavy precipitation in the catchment areas of Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland, has caused major rivers to swell beyond danger levels, triggering widespread flooding across Upper and Eastern Assam. The death toll from the current spell of floods has risen to five.
ASDMA said nearly 580 villages spread across 30 revenue circles remain submerged. The worst-hit districts include Sivasagar, Charaideo, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Cachar and Lakhimpur, where thousands of residents have been displaced by rising floodwaters.
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The floods have also caused extensive damage to agriculture, with more than 10,362 hectares of standing crops destroyed, posing a serious threat to the livelihoods of farming communities.
The overflowing Dorika River breached an embankment, inundating large areas of tea gardens in the Nazira region, while several other rivers, including the Brahmaputra, Buridihing, Dikhow, Disang and Dhansiri, continue to flow above the danger mark.
Transport infrastructure has been severely affected. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) suspended train operations on key sections after floodwaters inundated the Simaluguri railway yard. Rail traffic between Simaluguri–Namtiali and Simaluguri–Selenghat has been suspended, while several long-distance trains from Dibrugarh and Tinsukia have been diverted via the Rangiya–Rangapara route.
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Road connectivity has also been disrupted. Sections of the Jorhat–Sivasagar National Highway near Titabor remain submerged, while landslides in hilly areas have affected road links with neighbouring states. In Guwahati, heavy overnight rainfall triggered flash floods in several localities, resulting in waterlogging and major traffic congestion.
In response to the worsening situation, the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) have intensified rescue operations under ‘Operation Jal Rahat’. Rescue teams have evacuated hundreds of stranded residents using inflatable boats, while four Indian Air Force helicopters have been kept on standby for emergency evacuations.
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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the state government has adopted a “whole-of-government” approach to the crisis, deploying four cabinet ministers to oversee relief and rescue operations in the affected districts.
Meanwhile, the Central Water Commission (CWC) reported that the Dikhow River in Sivasagar has crossed its Highest Flood Level (HFL). With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting continued heavy to very heavy rainfall over the next 24 to 48 hours, ASDMA has issued a high-alert advisory, urging residents in low-lying and landslide-prone areas to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel.
Authorities continue to monitor the evolving situation as rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts remain underway across the flood-affected regions.
