GUWAHATI—The Indian Army has rescued more than 200 people stranded by severe flooding in Assam as military and civilian agencies expanded relief operations across the state's worst-affected districts, officials said, after days of heavy monsoon rain inundated large parts of Upper Assam.
According to the Defence Public Relations Office in Tezpur, four flood relief columns of the Army's Red Shield Division, operating under the Spear Corps, were deployed on the request of the civil administration in Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat districts. Troops equipped with rescue boats, engineering equipment, medical teams and relief supplies have evacuated stranded residents, including families trapped in flooded villages, and provided emergency assistance.
The Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) said the flooding, triggered by days of intense rainfall and swollen rivers, has affected about 363,000 people across 15 districts. Officials reported five additional flood-related deaths on Monday, bringing the monsoon-season death toll in the state to 10.
State authorities said Sivasagar, Charaideo and Jorhat were among the hardest-hit districts, with hundreds of villages submerged and transport links disrupted. Floodwaters have damaged roads, inundated agricultural land and affected rail services in parts of Upper Assam, while several tea estates have also been impacted.
The Army is working alongside the National Disaster Response Force, State Disaster Response Force, Fire and Emergency Services and local authorities to conduct rescue and relief operations. The Indian Air Force has been placed on standby to assist with evacuations if required, following a request from the Assam government as the flood situation deteriorated.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast further rainfall in parts of the state, although authorities expect the intensity of precipitation to ease later in the week. Officials have continued to monitor river levels and warned residents in vulnerable areas to remain alert as rescue teams remain deployed.
The Assam government said relief camps and distribution centres remain operational for displaced residents, while district administrations continue damage assessments and coordinate the delivery of food, drinking water and other essential supplies. Rescue and evacuation operations were continuing on Tuesday in areas where access remained limited because of high water levels.
