Assam Reels Under Severe Floods; Lakhimpur Worst-Hit as NEEPCO Dam Release Triggers Deluge
The floods, which began escalating late on May 30, 2025, have submerged over 243 villages, claimed at least two lives,...............
GUWAHATI– Assam is grappling with a catastrophic flood crisis as heavy rainfall and the sudden release of water from the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation Limited’s (NEEPCO) Ranganadi Hydroelectric Project (PHEP) dam at Yazali, Arunachal Pradesh, have inundated large parts of the state, with Lakhimpur district bearing the brunt.
The floods, which began escalating late on May 30, 2025, have submerged over 243 villages, claimed at least two lives, and disrupted normal life across multiple districts, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The Ranganadi River overflowed after NEEPCO opened all gates of the PHEP dam, releasing water at 1,250 mm by May 30 evening, following heavy rainfall in upstream Arunachal Pradesh.
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This caused flash floods in Lakhimpur’s Nowboicha Revenue Circle, washing away a dyke and submerging critical infrastructure, including parts of National Highway 15, isolating communities.
The victims, identified as Biren Pawe and Rajkumar Taid, succumbed to the floodwaters in Nowboicha, unable to escape their submerged homes. Over 5,000 people have been affected, with 193.52 hectares of cropland damaged and 1,580 large animals impacted.
The ASDMA reported that rivers across Assam, including the Brahmaputra and its tributaries like Subansiri and Dikrong, are flowing above danger levels due to incessant rains, with a “red alert” issued for continued heavy rainfall over the next 2–3 days.
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Five revenue circles—Kamrup Metropolitan, Kamrup, Cachar, Dhemaji, and Lakhimpur—have reported urban flooding, affecting thousands. The state has recorded five flood-related deaths as of May 31, 2025, with 14,000 MT of rice dispatched for relief efforts.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and District Disaster Response Force (DDRF) are deployed for round-the-clock rescue operations.
In Lakhimpur, the sudden dam water release has sparked outrage among locals, who allege NEEPCO failed to issue timely warnings, a recurring issue with the Ranganadi dam, operational since 2002. Past incidents, including a 2017 flood that killed 11 and a 2022 embankment breach, have fueled demands for accountability and decommissioning of the dam by groups like the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU).
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Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been urged to address the issue with the Ministry of Power, with Lakhimpur MP Pradan Baruah emphasizing the need for proactive measures using weather forecasts.
Urban areas like Guwahati are also severely affected, with artificial waterlogging paralyzing the city for two days. The floods have damaged embankments, roads, and homes, while Kaziranga National Park faces threats to wildlife, including the endangered one-horned rhinoceros.
The state government has set up 1,098 relief camps and distributed essentials like rice, dal, salt, and mustard oil. However, local organizations, including the Asomiya Yuva Mancha, demand mandatory prior warnings and sirens before dam water releases to protect riverine communities.
The crisis underscores the need for better flood management strategies in a region prone to seismic activity and heavy monsoons, with calls for a permanent solution growing louder.
