Eight people have lost their lives in Assam due to floods and landslides in the past 24 hours as heavy rainfall continues to batter the state and neighboring regions, according to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA).
The casualties include three flood-related deaths and five fatalities from landslides, highlighting the dual nature of the disaster affecting different parts of the state. ASDMA reports indicate that the deaths occurred across multiple districts as the first major spell of monsoon flooding grips Assam.
In flood-related incidents, two people including a child died in Golaghat district, while one person drowned in flood waters in Lakhimpur district. These deaths underscore the immediate dangers posed by rising water levels and swift currents in affected areas.
Landslides proved equally deadly, claiming five lives in Kamrup (Metro) district, with two additional people sustaining injuries. The landslide incidents reflect the vulnerability of hilly and urban areas to soil instability during periods of intense rainfall.
The widespread impact of the current weather system is evident from ASDMA’s report that 175 villages under 20 revenue circles across 12 districts have been affected by flooding. The affected districts include Dhemaji, South Salmara, Lakhimpur, Dibrugarh, Golaghat, Darrang, Nagaon, Karbi Anglong, Kamrup, Biswanath, Tinsukia, and Karbi Anglong West.
Karbi Anglong and Karbi Anglong West, being hilly districts, face particular challenges with landslides, while the plains districts are grappling with traditional flooding issues. The inclusion of Kamrup (Metro), which encompasses Guwahati, highlights urban vulnerability to both flooding and landslides.
Emergency response teams and disaster management authorities are likely working to provide relief and rescue operations in affected areas. The early occurrence of significant flooding this monsoon season raises concerns about the potential severity of the entire rainy season ahead.
Assam’s annual tryst with floods typically peaks during July and August, making the current early-season flooding particularly concerning for state authorities and residents. The state’s geography, with the Brahmaputra river system and numerous tributaries, makes it naturally prone to flooding during monsoon periods.
