Guwahati: Assam’s flood crisis continues to take a heavy toll, with the number of deaths reported during the ongoing deluge rising to 98, even as authorities intensify rescue, relief and rehabilitation measures across affected districts.
According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), the fatalities include 57 men, 23 women and 18 children. Several districts have reported deaths, with Cachar recording the highest toll at 22, followed by Sivasagar with 10, Karimganj with nine and Golaghat with six.
Dhemaji, Nagaon, Udalguri, Sonitpur and Karbi Anglong are among the other districts where flood-related fatalities have been reported.
Relief operations continue across affected areas
With large areas still struggling with inundation, district administrations and revenue officials are continuing to monitor water levels while coordinating assistance for affected residents.
Rescue teams and local authorities remain engaged in relief operations, while rehabilitation efforts are now gaining greater attention in areas where homes and infrastructure have suffered extensive damage.
Himanta Biswa Sarma calls for permanent solution
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called for a long-term national strategy to address Assam’s recurring flood problem.
Sarma said the state was looking beyond simply receiving a formal designation of the floods as a national disaster. He argued that Assam needs practical and sustainable solutions to prevent the crisis from recurring on such a large scale.
He also stressed the importance of cooperation between the government and civil society, while calling on academic institutions to contribute research and innovative ideas that could be implemented on the ground.
Financial assistance reaches thousands of families
In Sivasagar, Assam Minister Pijush Hazarika chaired a review meeting to assess the progress of relief and rehabilitation work.
Officials said approximately 43,000 flood-affected families in the district had already received the state government’s interim assistance of ₹15,000 each.
Hazarika directed officials to ensure that eligible families who have not yet received the financial support are covered without unnecessary delay. The meeting also reviewed damage assessment, dewatering operations, rehabilitation work and efforts to clear floodwater from Sivasagar town.
Temporary shelters planned for displaced families
The administration has started preparing resources to establish temporary shelters for families whose houses were completely destroyed by the floods.
Hazarika has been monitoring the situation in Sivasagar and neighbouring Charaideo for the past week, with officials focusing on both immediate relief and the longer process of restoring normal life.
Lovlina Borgohain visits flood-hit Golaghat
In Golaghat, Olympic boxer Lovlina Borgohain visited areas affected by the floods and witnessed the extent of the damage.
The situation remains difficult in several parts of the district as the Dhansiri and Doyang rivers continue to carry high volumes of water. Some families have been forced to leave their homes and move into relief camps.
Borgohain said relief supplies such as food and clothing were reaching affected residents but highlighted the severe housing crisis faced by families who had lost their homes.
She urged the authorities to make permanent and temporary shelter a priority for those whose houses were washed away, describing accommodation as one of the most pressing needs during the recovery phase.
As floodwaters gradually recede in some areas while remaining a threat in others, Assam now faces the dual challenge of providing immediate assistance and rebuilding homes and infrastructure damaged by the prolonged deluge.
