GUWAHATI — Floods triggered by days of intense monsoon rainfall have killed at least 41 people in Assam, with more than 650,000 residents affected across 11 districts, as rescue teams continued evacuations and weather officials warned of further heavy rain, authorities said on Thursday.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said the floods have inundated hundreds of villages, forcing thousands of people to leave their homes. Major rivers, including the Brahmaputra and several of its tributaries, remained above danger levels at multiple locations, worsening inundation in low-lying areas.
State authorities said relief and rescue operations were being carried out by the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, the Army, the Air Force and local administration. Drones have also been deployed to deliver essential supplies to stranded residents in remote locations where road access has been cut off.
According to official figures, more than 6.5 lakh people have been affected as floodwaters submerged homes, roads and agricultural land. Relief camps and distribution centres have been set up to provide shelter, food and other assistance to displaced families, while officials continued efforts to restore damaged infrastructure and essential services.
Assam Chief Secretary Ravi Kota reviewed the flood situation with senior officials, focusing on some of the worst-hit districts, including Charaideo, Sivasagar, Jorhat and Golaghat. He directed departments to accelerate relief distribution, repair damaged infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential services, according to an official statement.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast moderate to heavy rainfall across parts of Assam over the next three to four days, raising concerns that river levels could remain elevated and hamper relief operations. Authorities have urged residents, particularly those living in flood-prone and low-lying areas, to remain alert and follow official advisories.
Flooding is a recurring challenge during the annual monsoon season in Assam, where the Brahmaputra river system frequently overflows after prolonged rainfall in the state and upstream catchment areas. This year's flooding has disrupted transport, damaged crops and affected public infrastructure across several districts.
Rescue and relief operations were continuing on Thursday as authorities assessed damage and monitored river levels, with officials warning that the situation remained critical while additional rainfall was forecast.
